Action on Anti-Social Behaviour


June 27, 2022

THE Territory government is checking if business owners can permanently ban troublemakers from their premises if they have already been evicted from the site.

The government is under pressure to find solutions to a surge in anti-social behaviour across the Territory’s towns and cities.

The new owner of Casuarina Square shopping centre, Sentinel Property Group chief executive Warren Ebert, said Chief Minister Natasha Fyles (pictured) had committed to clarifying rules around the Trespass Act as they relate to permanent bans on unruly patrons.

“The Chief Minister said there is legislation under the Trespass Act and they’re getting that to us,” Mr Ebert said.

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Trespass law review targets repeat pests

THE Territory government is checking if business owners can permanently ban troublemakers from their premises if they have already been evicted from the site.

Clarification of the law was sought by the new owner of Casuarina Square shopping centre, Sentinel Property Group chief executive Warren Ebert.

The Territory government is under pressure to find solutions to a surge in anti-social behaviour across our towns and cities.

Speaking last week at an investor roadshow at Casuarina Club, Mr Ebert said Chief Minister Natasha Fyles had committed to clarifying rules around the Trespass Act as they relate to permanent bans on unruly patrons.

“So if you have locals creating problems you (escort) them out, then they just come in another door,” Mr Ebert said. “But the chief minister said there is legislation under the Trespass Act and they’re getting that to us.

“Any angle we can find to destroy their fun we’re working on it.”

At a Property Council corporate lunch at Mindil Beach Casino Resort on Friday, Ms Fyles addressed concerns around itinerancy and anti-social behaviour.

“Everyone in the Territory has the right to go about their daily life without putting up with humbug or worse,” Ms Fyles said.

“I acknowledge that the community is experiencing unacceptable levels of anti-social behaviour and property crime, and I won’t pretend that isn’t happening.

“Some of it is cyclical, some of it is seasonal, but we need to prepare for that and we need to try and stop it before it happens.

“I won’t shy away from those difficult conversations. I wanted to assure you of that. We are committed, invested in the generational change that it will take and we are starting to see those benefits.
“But I also have listened and I know the community wants to see short- and medium-term solutions as well as longer-term generational change.”

One of those solutions could be amending the Tres-pass Act – although the chief minister on Friday shied away from committing to changing the Act to impose such a ban.

The government is first looking to clarify the intent of the Act, which has had a number of amendments since its 1987 passage through Territory parliament.

“I had a meeting with Sentinel Group and they raised that specific issue,” Ms Fyles said. “We undertook to go away and have a look at the legislation to ensure there is clarity for them as property owners to understand their rights around that type of situation.

“What rights has (a property owner) got if someone is continuing to cause anti-social behaviour? We’ve got a complex legislative system and we have, in terms of anti-social behaviour, a number of measures.”

NT News | Camden Smith

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