NT Greenlights New Laws Granting Authority to Declare Snap Curfews

In the wake of a rise in anti-social behaviour in the Northern Territory, the state government has passed new curfew legislation allowing police greater scope in enforcing public order, including declaring snap curfews. Over the past few months, Alice Springs has been plagued by civil unrest involving youths, with violent offences by 12- to 17-year-olds reaching their highest levels since 2016. On March 29, a curfew was imposed, banning all children under 18, excluding those with a valid reason, from the town’s Central Business District between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. The Lawler government announced that the new strategy, introduced under the Police Legislation Amendment Bill 2024, was needed to drive down crime....