There are fears a lack of communication around the Alice Springs youth curfew could lead to children being punished by police, after multiple residents told the ABC they were unaware of the declaration.
The NT children's commissioner says rules of a two-week youth curfew in Alice Springs are unclear and better communication to community members is needed.
On Friday the ABC spoke to more than 20 residents living in Mpwetyerre town camp, located within the curfew zone.None of the residents wanted to speak on the record.But NT Children's Commissioner Shahleena Musk told the ABC the parameters around the curfew were unclear, leaving children and their families in Alice Springs unaware of what they were and were not allowed to do.
"There's a desperate need for government to communicate in writing, but also in mediums — whether it's on social media, in SMS — to the Alice Springs public what this actually is. So not to be in what place, during what time, for what reasons, and where the exceptions lie, so that people can make informed choices," she said.
"Many of these children come from experiences of disadvantage, are living in overcrowded or could be homeless, many children are grappling with family violence and unmet disability, mental health and trauma needs," she said. "Our Aboriginal liaison officers … know the community, they are incredibly influential and really good communicators, so they're taking the message out for us, to make sure people understand what we're doing and what we're trying to achieve."
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