Alcohol Ban in Alice Springs After Unrest Linked to Child’s Death

In response to the unrest, NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said takeaway alcohol would be banned on May 1 and limited the following day.

Customers are seen leaving Dan Murphy's in Adelaide, Australia, on Nov. 18, 2020. Kelly Barnes/Getty Images

The Northern Territory (NT) government has imposed a temporary ban on takeaway alcohol in Alice Springs following recent disorder in the town.

The town is experiencing heightened tensions after violence broke out following the arrest of a man accused of murdering a five-year-old girl.

It was reported that the alleged suspect, Jefferson Lewis, presented himself at one of the town camps, where he was assaulted by a group of local community members, prompting a response from police.

When police and emergency services arrived at the scene, they were also attacked by the crowd, with police vehicles and property allegedly damaged during the clashes.

In response to the unrest, NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said takeaway alcohol would be banned on May 1 and limited the following day.

“Today, there will be no takeaway alcohol here in Alice Springs. I want to thank the leadership from our bottle shops and the hospitality industry for leading that charge,” she told reporters on May 1.

Finocchiaro said the move would protect the public and emergency responders.

“It is very important and it will bring important reprieve to the community and frontline workers. Tomorrow, there will be limited takeaway between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Sunday is a really highly restricted and Monday and Tuesday are already grog-free days.”

The chief minister noted that she did not want things to escalate and that the state government had implemented some precautionary measures.

“So today we need boots on the ground where they are needed–we need our community supported–and not standing in front of bottle shops,” she said.

Alice Springs already has some of the most stringent takeaway alcohol laws in Australia outside emergency measures.

Alcohol can not be sold takeaway on Monday and Tuesday, while drinking in public is not allowed in Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and Katherine and some parts of Darwin.

One Arrested Following Violent Unrest

Police also provided a fresh update on the arrests connected to the violent unrest that erupted in Alice Springs on April 30.

Northern Territory Police Commissioner Martin Dole confirmed that one one person had been arrested for allegedly “attempting to set fire” to a police sedan.

“She’s in custody at the moment and is being investigated for attempted arson,” he told reporters.

Dole also noted those who clashed with police and emergency services would face consequences.

“Let me say, the behaviour we saw last night cannot be explained away, excused or accepted. There is absolutely no excuse for violence against emergency services that are just doing their job,” he said.

“So for those people involved, you will face the law as Jefferson Lewis is facing the law and your behaviour will not be accepted by us.”