‘Wanna hook up?’: MPs, staffers reveal North Terrace horror stories

This photograph, snapped from a Parliament House window, shows the tragic reality of anti-social behaviour and violence gripping our CBD, leaving some scared to walk alone.

Anti-social behaviour at a bus stop on North Terrace, snapped by a staffer from a Parliament House window.

• Cops toughen up on CBD trouble-makers

MPs and staff working at Parliament House have revealed their experiences of menacing anti-social behaviour on North Tce, including being sexually propositioned and witnessing acts of violence.

It comes as a heartbreaking photo shows a person slumped on the ground behind a bus stop on the same street, with no shortage of people around but nobody moving to help.

The image demonstrates how the streets of the CBD, even our vaunted cultural boulevard, have become streets of routine despair and fear.

Otherwise good people are too scared to help others or have become too accustomed to seeing the twin but unrelated problems of horrific disadvantage and violent and menacing meth addicts.

So people keep their heads down, their AirPods in and hope not to attract any negative attention.

Authorities are battling rising alcohol-fuelled violence and anti-social behaviour blighting Adelaide’s most popular areas, amid reports harassment and petty CBD street crime is a “big problem”.

The “hotspot” areas centre on the western part of North Tce, outside the Convention Centre, railway station and Parliament House.

Police are seen along North Terrace at night, June 15, 2023. Picture: Morgan Sette

Details of the latest frightening incidents include a young female staffer being cornered by a large, intoxicated man outside parliament and asked if she wanted to “hook up”.

Others include senseless acts of violence, public alcohol and drug abuse and general anti-social behaviour.

The female staffer said she was waiting alone outside parliament in an alcove to shelter from the rain last month when the incident unfolded. “A loud, seemingly intoxicated group walked past on North Tce, when one man broke away and slowly made his way up the steps towards me,” she said.

“He was huge, at least double my size … I was backed into a corner with three doors between me and the safety of parliament – how could I possibly swipe my security pass to get back inside in time if this man wanted to harm me? By the time the man reached me, he slurred: ‘Wanna hook up?’ I politely told him: ‘No thank you. I haven’t waited outside parliament alone after work since.”

Parliamentary workers have been warned to leave in pairs and to avoid long waits for buses amid violent incidents – including assaults – on the notorious thoroughfare.

Other staffers have reported seeing a young man being bashed by an older male and a woman, who then turned on bystanders trying to help.

Country MP Adrian Pederick, who regularly visits Adelaide to attend parliament, said he had noticed anti-social and threatening behaviour was “more prominent on our streets than ever before”.

Hammond MP Adrian Pederick is concerned about the anti-social behaviour around North Terrace and Parliament House. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

“I’ve never seen the CBD in such a bad state. People are scared and businesses are fed up. On sitting weeks when I am in Adelaide, there have been multiple instances at night where altercations could have boiled over. Some of these times I consider myself lucky to arrive back at my accommodation on North Tce – just a few hundred metres away from Parliament House – without incident. The police are rarely in sight. I know of some female colleagues who now walk in the middle of North Tce, rather than the footpath, where it’s well-lit just to feel safe – that’s not okay.”

Police are seen interacting with a man along North Terrace at night this month. Picture: The Advertiser/ Morgan Sette

In light of the increasing city crime, police on Wednesday announced they would bolster their presence on the troubled streets. Just two days after she claimed increasing CBD crime was a public “perception”, Acting Police Commissioner Linda Williams said additional officers will be deployed around the North Tce precinct.

The increased presence, made up of mobile and foot patrols along with Mounted Operations, will work to reduce anti-social behaviour and violence.

Ms Williams said police “understand the fear of crime in the city” and that an increased police presence will “provide reassurance to the community”.

Ms Williams said senior officers were looking at widening “declared public precinct” laws on Friday and Saturday nights to seven days. This would allow police to remove and ban people from a specific area and do random searches.

Police Minister Joe Szakacs said Parliament House was a protective security area, with police officers permanently based inside the building.

“All workers have the right to be safe at work. I commend the employers around South Australia who take their responsibility seriously,” he said.

“Police have already surged resources into the CBD to address anti-social behaviour and the commitment of additional capacity and programs are not only being actively examined by (SA Police), but multiple other government agencies.”

SA Police were contacted for comment.

Originally published as ‘Wanna hook up?’: MPs, staffers reveal North Terrace horror stories