Alice Springs youth curfew: state of emergency called after violence in town centre

The Northern Territory chief minister, Eva Lawler, has announced a two-week curfew for young people will begin on Wednesday night in Alice Springs after a violent incident outside a town pub the previous day.

“We want people in Alice Springs to be able to walk down the street, feel safe, be able to go to the shopping centre, pick up their kids from school and not be concerned about their own safety,” Lawler said.

Later on Tuesday evening, the ceremony was continuing at Hidden Valley town camp outside Alice Springs when more than 150 people were allegedly involved in a violent brawl.

The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, asked the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, during question time why the federal government hadn’t done more to stem the crisis.

But the NT’s Australian of the Year, Blair McFarland, warned the curfew was a “kneejerk reaction”, adding the announcement was equivalent to “closing the door after the horse was bolted”.

The Central Land Council met in Alice Springs on Wednesday afternoon and confirmed they would support community leaders to help families resolve the underlying disputes.