DistantNews
Support us
Another plan unveiled to tackle Port Augusta’s long-running crime and violence problems
🇦🇺 Australia /Crime & Justice

Another plan unveiled to tackle Port Augusta’s long-running crime and violence problems

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • South Australia has launched another government taskforce aimed at Port Augusta’s long-standing crime, violence and substance-abuse problems.
  • Indigenous leaders welcome efforts to address the issues but want the state to consult more closely with Aboriginal communities.
  • Front-line workers say methamphetamine use has increased since alcohol restrictions began, while youth advocates warn that crime rhetoric can fuel racial profiling.

Port Augusta is facing another government plan to address crime and violence, but Aboriginal leaders say the people living with the problem still are not being properly heard.

Barngarla elder Aunty Linda Dare said crime and violence were increasing and called on the state to meet directly with the community. She said residents saw the problems every day and should have the chance to put forward their views. Kuyani and Adnyamathanha elder Malcolm “Tiger” McKenzie also criticised the lack of political attention to the neighbouring Aboriginal community of Davenport, saying repeated invitations to visit had gone unanswered.

As far as I’m concerned, the state needs to come and sit down with the community, because we are the ones that see it on a day-to-day basis

— Linda DareThe Barngarla elder called for direct Indigenous consultation on the government’s response.

Restrictions on alcohol introduced in 2022 had been welcomed by people working in the community. They limited the volume of takeaway alcohol and introduced an identification-scanning system. But Alinda Hogg, a project coordinator with Aboriginal drug and alcohol service Stepping Stones, said the problem had shifted as methamphetamine use increased. Port Augusta Council issued a public safety warning in April about a rise in discarded needles. Hogg and Dare said methamphetamine was now driving more crime than alcohol.

They need to come and sit down, have a forum with us so we can put our opinions across to them

— Linda DareDare urged the state to create a forum with Port Augusta residents.

Indigenous youth advocates Eli Partridge and Christian Khan, both 19 and members of the Davenport Community Alliance, warned that talk of spikes in crime, substance abuse or antisocial behaviour could become an attack on young Aboriginal men. Both said they had experienced racial profiling. Partridge said he had sometimes wished his skin were lighter, while Khan described feeling ashamed simply walking around.

The pair said there was no easy answer but praised programs such as Mangrove Court, which supports the families of young offenders. Khan said authorities should sit with young people, understand why they were offending and help remove them from that situation.

Sit with them, find out why they’re doing these things, how we can remove them from that place

— Christian KhanThe youth advocate described the approach he wants programs such as Mangrove Court to take.
About this summary

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

More Stories

From Our Blog