Electoral Commission finalising security measures for polling in volatile community of Wadeye

The dates have been set for mobile polling at Wadeye, with the Australian Electoral Commission still finetuning its response to violence in the community.

UPDATE, THURS MAY 5: THE Australian Electoral Commission is finetuning its response to recurring violence at the Wadeye community ahead of mobile polling scheduled to begin Monday.

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has published its polling schedule for the troubled community, with the first ballots to be cast at Wudapuli between 3.30pm and 4.30pm on Monday, May 9.

Polling is then scheduled to pause for a week, before resuming from 10am to 4.30pm on Monday, May 16 with four more sessions scheduled for the following Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

The NT News understands security guards will accompany AEC officials on site during mobile polling.

The NT News has asked the AEC about planned security measures for mobile polling, including whether police will accompany officers, if AEC officials will stay the night in Wadeye and whether contingencies are in place in case violence breaks out during polling.

Earlier this week, AEC NT operations director Geoff Bloom said the Commission had pre-existing partnerships at Wadeye.

“The AEC has an existing partnership through our Indigenous Electoral Participation Program with the Thamarrurr Development Corporation (TDC),” he said.

“We are in close contact with TDC to better understand conditions on the ground in Wadeye which will inform our upcoming service offering in and around the community.

“Noting cultural sensitivities, we are working towards delivering a polling service in Wadeye that provides the greatest reach and enables us to maximise turnout in this community. We expect to finalise polling arrangements for Wadeye over the next week following further discussions with partners and other community contacts.”

UPDATE, WED MAY 4: AN EMERGENCY has not been declared for Wadeye, despite 500 people being displaced by violence and destruction.

The Chief Minister’s department has confirmed an Emergency Declaration has not been made under the Emergency Management Act.

“The Northern Territory Government is co-ordinating efforts to ensure people have access to essential services,” a spokesman for Michael Gunner said.

Since there has not been an emergency declaration, the spokesman confirmed a Territory Controller had also not been assigned.

An emergency declaration can be used for disaster responses, such as cyclones, floods and fires, and is currently in place for the Covid pandemic.

The Chief Minister’s office said there was a cross-government response to Wadeye.

He said the multi-agency and community mission was providing food and essential non-food supplies such as sanitation, shelter, bedding, clothing, fuel, and infrastructure on homelands to assist displaced and impacted residents.

A major co-ordinated NT Police operation is underway in the remote community of Wadeye in response to months of violent unrest.

“All services operating in Wadeye have come together to provide as much support as they can with staff working extraordinary hours to assist people impacted by the unrest,” he said.

He said the operation was assisting residents still in Wadeye, as well as those presenting in Darwin and other communities.

Approximately 500 people have been displaced, but exact numbers remain unknown.

“Work is being done to collect data on displaced individuals at all locations,” the spokesman said.

“It is known that some people have moved out to nearby homelands, bushland with a small number into Darwin.”

Police Minister Nichole Manison visited Wadeye on Tuesday, at the request of Traditional Owner and senior community members.

A spokeswoman from her office said Ms Manison spoke with community leaders, senior public servants and police on the ground.

“This is a very complex matter with a long history,” she said.

The Chief Minister’s department was unable to confirm a timeline to repair an estimated 80 damaged homes and 37 destroyed houses.

“Access to essential services and community wellbeing is the priority at this stage,” he said.

“Timelines for house repairs cannot be determined until a comprehensive on-ground assessment has occurred.”

“The Territory Government has staff on the ground undertaking assessments of people’s immediate needs and housing repairs.”

UPDATE TUES MAY 3: WADEYE unrest has garnered the attention of political candidates across the Territory, who are calling for greater support to be deployed to the region.

Labor Senator Malarndirri McCarthy visited Wadeye on Monday to meet with community and Traditional Owners.

“Basic humanitarian needs are not being met – and we need a huge step up in services to deal with people who have been forced into desperate situations because of this violence. This means shelter, food, sanitation and medication,” she said.

“It’s unacceptable what is taking place in Wadeye in terms of hundreds of people being forced out of town and into surrounding homelands and bush camps.”

Ms McCarthy said there were “deep wounds” in the community but the violence must stop.

“I encourage family groups, leaders, and government to keep trying to find a peaceful resolution in Wadeye,’ she said.

A major co-ordinated NT Police operation is underway in the remote community of Wadeye in response to months of violent unrest.

Also on Monday CLP senate candidate Jacinta Price said the unrest epitomised the need for police to carry guns in communities, while calling for defence to deployed.

“This is the Australia that is out of sight from everyone else except those living there,” Ms Price wrote on Facebook.

“When virtue signalling woke folk from inner cities … want to focus on blaming White Australia for all our problems they ignore what’s really going on. This is why guns cannot be removed by authorities in communities.”

Since February NT Police have ramped up their presence in the community, 394 km south west of Darwin.

Four hundred people are estimated to have been displaced after riots and arsonists destroyed at least 37 homes.

Commander Janelle Tonkin confirmed 21 arrests had been made since the start of March for various offences relating to violence, criminal damage and engaging in riotous behaviour.

Ms Tonkin did not confirm if police were given approval to use tear gas, but said “officers need to be able to protect life and have measures to restore calm in the event of disturbances”.

Calls to remove guns from remote policing practices flared in the wake of Zachary Rolfe’s murder trial. Following the constable’s not guilty verdict, Warlpiri Elder Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves called for guns to be banned in remote communities.

“We don’t want no guns! Enough is enough! It’s got to stop,” Mr Hargraves said.

“Let us respect each other and we do not want to see another black young fella or a girl to be shot.”

EARLIER MON, MAY 2: MULTIPLE families and clans have been squashed on top of each other in Wadeye due to years of inaction following consultations with traditional owners.

Thamarrurr Development Corporation chief executive Scott McIntyre said the seeds of the latest wave of violence was built into the streets of Wadeye through a lack of response to community consultation on housing needs.

Since February police, including the Territory Response Group, have been attempting to quell unrest between Wadeye families.

Four hundred people are estimated to have been displaced after riots and arsonists destroyed at least 37 homes in the remote community, 394 km south west of Darwin.

The diaspora from the violence has exaggerated overcrowding pressures in the region, with pressures on the services in surrounding smaller communities.

NT Police confirmed the weeks of unrest had resulted in serious injuries, including claiming the life of a 32-year-old man who passed away following an alleged assault with an 18-year-old man, who has been charged with manslaughter.

With 20 clan groups in the Wadeye region, Mr McIntyre said Wadeye’s housing layouts were not designed with the complexities of the local community in mind.

“The government policy is ‘We’re going to build a house here next to this one’ and then they start fighting each other because they’re on top of each other..,” he said.

“So we’ve been saying for years that this is not working, don’t do this.

“The Housing Minister needs to understand the scale of the impact and the opportunity to work with us to change that approach completely. “

Mr McIntyre said Wadeye needed to adopt a rural development approach to housing, allowing families to spread out while still able to access the essential services in town.

Mr McIntyre said five acre “bush blocks” — similar to homes in Berry Springs and Humpty Doo — would allow families to become more self-sufficient and empowered.

“(It’s) seven acres or five acres of bush and somewhere in there, there’s a house and a shed and a bore and stuff and people living in there,” he said.

“And that’s what we want. That’s what we’ve always said. In fact the first missionaries said it.”

He said the approach differed from the Homelands approach, which would bring infrastructure, upgrades and services to existing sites and communities.

“It’s not people falling into outstations and homelands — is not that,” Mr McIntyre said.

“It’s families able to have a patch in and move out and do whatever they want to do on that.”

Critically he said the larger lots could offer families’ business opportunities not available “if they’re stuck on a little house with no front yard and not even a driveway”.

The NT Government said there were 17 new homes under construction in Wadeye, along with a 30-lot subdivision.

Mr McIntyre said there were still major questions about the restitution and repair of at least 80 homes, on top of the 40 homes destroyed in the unrest as of last week.

Remote Housing and Town Camps Minister Chansey Paech said he had met with members of the Wadeye community to discuss their concerns and proposed solutions.

“I am now working with my Department to look at options around the urgent provision of infrastructure to make it possible for residents who wish to move on to their homelands as soon as possible,” Mr Paech said.

“I know homelands are places of critical social and cultural importance and that’s why I have been a strong advocate for better housing on our homelands.”

He said the Wadeye community would also negotiate with the Northern Territory Government once the current housing agreement expired in mid-2023.

Mr Paech said there was a $100m Federal Labor commitment to extending housing support to homelands.

In reaction to the immediate unrest, the Chief Minister confirmed the government was working with non-government organisations, the regional council and local Aboriginal organisations to provide emergency relief.

A spokesman said food, shelter, bedding, clothing, fuel, and infrastructure on homelands was being provided to help displaced and impacted residents.

Despite the clinic being down to two health workers, the Chief Minister’s office said the health centre was operational with “staff are available for call outs with a police escort”.

He said if people were concerned they could apply for an escort to the shops.

The government confirmed six people were flown to Darwin because of security concerns, with more people being assessed for evacuation.

“(And) approximately 150 others have left either by their own means or have been assisted to travel to their homelands with the help of community organisations, mainly with fuel vouchers.” he said.

He said those leaving Wadeye were being supported by Territory Families, Housing and Communities case management team.

UPDATE 4PM, THURS APR 28: PROTECTING life and property has become the main objective of a specialist police operation as families are driven out of their homes by unrest in Wadeye.

Territory Support Services Superintendent Shaun Gill said a major co-ordinated police operation was underway in the remote community after months of violent unrest.

Four hundred people are estimated to have been displaced after riots and arsonists destroyed at least 37 homes in the remote community, 394 km south west of Darwin.

Police have ramped up operations in Wadeye since February, with an additional 17 police including four Territory Response Group officers on the ground.

Supt. Gill said his officers, as part of the Territory Response Group, had two operational objectives.

“There’s two priorities: There’s life and property. That’s our sworn duty as police officers,” Supt Gill said.

He said TRG’s speciality was on identifying and tracking down offenders taking part in the unrest.

He said nine people had been arrested and a further 21 people taken in on outstanding warrants.

He said many were suspected “instigators” of riots, property damage and assaults.

“They’re not usually on the peripheries, and they’re the ones who are inciting a lot of this,” Supt. Gill said.

Supt Gill said “all sorts of weapons” were being seized, ranging from improvised weapons like steel bars to traditional spears and crossbows.

NT Police Territory Response Group Superintendent Shaun Gill.

Supt Gill said the TRG were a part of a wider policing operation, with intelligence specialists also working with local frontline officers, under the control of the police forward commander.

“They can provide extra support. They have an extra level of training, they have extra level equipment that can help out with,” Supt Gill said.

“This has been an ongoing solution for a long time,” Supt Gill said.

He said the elite response group had been based in Wadeye for 15 out of the past 28 days, following four deployments in March.

“But invariably, this happens … things will quieten down, things will flare up and TRG will come back to provide assistance.”

He ruled out having a more permanent TRG presence in Wadeye, saying the elite squad was a “finite recourse”.

“You need to realise that we support the entire Northern Territory,” he said.

“This year alone we’ve been to 24 remote locations for various jobs.”

But Supt Gill said the elite group was not a “magic bullet” for quelling the violence.

“In essence, it comes down to community engagement. It’s engagement with Elders. It’s not entirely a police thing as well, it’s a cross government thing,” he said.

This is not the first time TRG have been called to Wadeye in response to an outbreak of violence.

“I’ve been going in and out of Wadeye and other locations for approximately 25 years,” Supt Gill said.

“It’s cyclic. I wouldn’t say this is any worse than what I’ve seen before. And we have peaks and troughs. “

INITIAL 10AM WED APR 27: FOUR hundred people are estimated to have lost their homes as community unrest descends into lawlessness in Wadeye.

Thamarrurr Development Corporation chief executive Scott McIntyre said Wadeye residents were calling out for immediate and long-term support as the violence threatens to shutter the local health centres, schools and aged care centre.

“People are scared. People are feeling unsafe. People are literally at their wit’s end because they can’t sleep,” Mr McIntyre said.

“They can’t access services, so they can’t go to the store, they can’t go to the clinic, no one’s going to school.”

Northern Territory Police confirmed they were continuing to respond to widespread unrest in the remote community, 394 km south west of Darwin.

Acting Superintendent Bradley Fox said significant damage to property, including extensive damage to 37 residences.

“Police have responded to numerous instances of violence within the community recently, and it is believed historical tensions between local families are the cause of the unrest,” Supt Fox said.

He said community members had been displaced and police were working to support and relocate some of the most vulnerable.

Mr McIntyre said at least 37 homes were now uninhabitable after being broken into, trashed or burnt down by arsonists.

“There’s at least two families that we know of who were asleep inside the house when it was set on fire. So they had to escape using wet blankets,” he said.

Mr McIntyre estimated that between 400-500 people in total now displaced from Wadeye, with the diaspora causing greater overcrowding pressures and food shortages in surrounding smaller communities.

“We ran out of fuel for a couple of days because there’s just a massive run on fuel from people trying to get out of town,” he said.

“People are taking their blankets out to the bush, people are heading out to Country and homelands.”

Territory Families and Urban Housing Minister Kate Worden said the destruction of homes was “extremely disappointing”.

“Not just for us as the asset managers but also for the community,” Ms Worden said.

“It’s really devastating for the families that are in those homes.

“The Northern Territory police along with the community, are working hand-in-hand with community members who are equally disgusted by this act to make sure that those criminal charges, if they’re appropriate are taken.”

NT Police said the weeks of unrest had already claimed one life, with a 32-year-old man passing away following an alleged assault with an 18-year-old man, who has been charged with manslaughter.

Over a two-week period in early April, officers arrested 18 people for anti-social behaviour, while police were pelted with rocks in another altercation.

One Wadeye resident, who did not wish to be named, said he spent an evening listening to the explosions as at least six cars were set alight.

“You see the f**king wrecks everywhere,” he said.

“It’s a full on war.

“Since that lad was killed its all picking up, it’s all revenge.”

As they spoke to the NT News on Wednesday the Wadeye resident said a riot was breaking out, likely as a result of the cemetery being trashed on Tuesday night.

“It’s been like this every single night since February,” he said. “I’m leaving.”

“I just want to see something be done.”

The NT News has also been told reports of crossbow and axe injuries and cars being run off the road.

Mr McIntyre said an atmosphere of lawlessness was palpable in Wadeye.

Wadeye police station.

“People are walking around the streets with machetes and Bowie knives — and it’s unclear if the police are removing the weapons,” he said.

“So the rule of law is not being enforced.”

Mr McIntyre said the police response had been quite reactive and called for a more sustainable and mediating approach to the unrest.

“This one did start off with an inter-family dispute and then without it being adequately controlled it just simmers,” he said.

“It sort of goes backwards and forwards and escalates (on social media), and then there’s a challenge and then everyone is upping themselves and heading off to fight them.”

He said the arrival of the Territory Response Group, a specialist tactical group, did decrease the level of unrest while they were in Wadeye, but a longer term strategy was needed.

“(Otherwise) it’ll just be a cycle of a surge capacity for a period of time while they can maintain it — and they may or may not improve the situation,” he said.

With 20 clan groups in the Wadeye region, Mr McIntyre said the solution would come from trusted mediators, particularly from police, working with all the clashing families.

“In situations like this, what’s most critical is people who can assist the community, but they’re inside and they’re competent and capable of working across groups,” he said.

“It’s not about just more local police. It’s not even just about more police.

“It’s about an ability to achieve law and order and work competently within the community to mediate and understand people’s needs.

“What’s causing this what’s triggering this in the first place?”

He said there was pressure on the community and local organisations to solve the unrest by themselves.

“Authorities seem to be looking at the community and the organisations to say, ‘Well, you gotta fix it, fix it’. It’s ridiculous.”

Mr McIntyre said Thamarrurr Development Corporation had organised a $5000 food drop and were engaging with families to “head out bush and calm down”.

“(On Tuesday) we literally had staff members engaging with a large family group of about 200 people, convincing them not to walk up the street and fight the other mob,” he said.

Mr McIntyre emphasised that not all residents were involved in the clashes with the majority of residents caught in the crossfire of the unrest.

He said Wadeye residents were “embarrassed” by the violent stories coming from their town, which were scaring off essential services.

Mr McIntyre said the local clinic, which was meant to have 14 health workers, was staffed by only three people.

“It won’t be long before it shut because they just won’t be able to staff,” he said.

“What they’re saying now is that they’re not able to attract and bring staff out there because of the conditions, so people are too frightened to go out there. They don’t want to come work in Wadeye.”

A Wadeye residents said the town had been let down for years, with inadequate housing and employment opportunities.

Another Wadeye residents said the town had been let down for years, with inadequate housing and employment opportunities.

“It’s a town that is doomed to failure if we’re not careful,” he said.

“I really feel for these people.”

Mr McIntyre said a sustainable law and order strategy was needed, alongside investment and opportunity for the community.

“And so if that takes extra police and if it takes an ongoing TRG presence for some time to achieve and then maintain law and order, that’s what’s needed,” he said.

“Because the clinic will shut, the school will shut, if we lose a couple of aged care nurses then we’ll have to shut the aged care service.

“No kid is getting educated, the old people won’t be being looked after. People’s basic human rights are not being met.”

Police Minister and Remote Housing Minister have also been contacted for comment.

Originally published as Electoral Commission finalising security measures for polling in volatile community of Wadeye