NT Police have deployed chemical munitions in Wadeye as officers respond to escalating community unrest involving armed groups, crossbow attacks and damage to police vehicles in the remote West Daly community.
Police say they have responded to multiple violent disturbances since October 4, involving large groups allegedly armed with weapons including axes, steel bars and crossbows.
Authorities have linked the incidents to ongoing tensions between family groups within the community.
The unrest follows a major disturbance on September 28 involving about 150 people.
During that incident, a 33-year-old man allegedly fled from a large group and sought refuge inside a house fearing for his safety.
Two police vehicles were also allegedly damaged.
This week, officers responded to two incidents within 24 hours where victims were allegedly struck by arrows fired from a crossbow.
The latest incident occurred on October 5, when a 23-year-old man was allegedly struck in the foot by an arrow.
Police later seized two arrows believed to be linked to the incident, however the alleged offender remains unidentified and outstanding.
Additional police resources are now being deployed to Wadeye, including the Northern Territory Police Force’s new high-tech Tasers as part of a pilot program aimed at strengthening frontline responses.
Community elders have continued to condemn the violence and are working with authorities to support mediation efforts and community-led solutions to ongoing disputes.
Located about 420 kilometres south-west of Darwin, Wadeye is one of the Northern Territory’s largest Aboriginal communities and is home to more than 20 clan groups.
Long-running tensions between some family and clan groups have sparked unrest, prompting repeated calls over the years for greater support for people wishing to relocate to their traditional homelands.
As violence again makes headlines, Wadeye’s Aboriginal-led Thamarrurr Development Corporation (TDC), which represents the community’s clan groups, has renewed concerns about the withdrawal of government services whenever unrest breaks out.
TDC Deputy Chief Executive Officer Tracey Leo said local Aboriginal organisations were often expected to continue operating despite disruptions that caused government agencies to suspend services.
“It beggars belief that local Aboriginal organisations, businesses and their employees are expected to continue living, working and delivering essential programs in Wadeye, while already limited government services are withdrawn at the first sign of trouble,” Ms Leo said.
“Our staff live here. They turn up for work. They support families and continue delivering services — often at the very time our community needs them most.
“If it is considered safe enough for local organisations and their predominantly Aboriginal workforce to continue operating, then there needs to be a very clear justification for why government services cannot continue.”
Ms Leo said the vast majority of residents were not involved in the fighting but continued to bear the consequences when services were suspended.
“”The overwhelming majority of people in Wadeye are not involved in the fighting, yet they are the ones who repeatedly lose access to important services because of the behaviour of a small number of individuals,” she said.
TDC is calling on the Northern Territory Government to establish a standardised risk-assessment framework across agencies when considering service withdrawals.
The proposed framework would assess the location and nature of incidents, police advice, threats to staff or facilities and whether services could safely continue with reasonable safeguards in place.
“Remote communities already experience significant gaps in government service delivery. They should not be further disadvantaged by unnecessary or disproportionate service withdrawals.
“The people of Wadeye deserve the same commitment to continuity of government services as people anywhere else in the Northern Territory.”
Residents are being urged to avoid locations where disturbances are occurring, refrain from becoming involved in ongoing disputes and prioritise the safety of their families.
Officer in Charge of Wadeye Police Station Senior Sergeant Byron May said police would maintain a strong presence in the community.
“Despite the scale and nature of these incidents, there has been no significant impact on service delivery within the community, and the Northern Territory Police Force, together with government and non-government partners, remains committed to maintaining essential services and business continuity in Wadeye,” he said.
