MINISTER for Young Territorians Peter Styles says he is “committed” to investigating the need for a youth drop-in centre in Katherine after vigilantes began taking action to combat antisocial behaviour by children.
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The debate about whether or not the town needed a dedicated facility to support youth was reignited last week after footage was posted on a popular Facebook page showing a self-styled vigilante detaining an 11-year-old boy who had been damaging property.
The push for a youth drop-in centre is being driven by YMCA Katherine, with the organisation branding the actions of the vigilante as counterproductive to producing a positive outcome for the boy.
YMCA Katherine chief executive officer Jim Vivian said, while he understood the community’s frustration, a viable long-term solution needed to be found.
“They’re going the wrong way about it, big time,” he said.
“If it’s not a whole-of-community approach, it just won’t work.”
“I believe it is a highly major priority to get a youth centre.”
There are no specific plans in place for such a facility but Mr Vivian said it needed to be “purpose-built” to ensure youth could access all the services they required to get assistance.
“You need to be able to house organisations like headspace and four or five other things there,” he explained.
“We just need somewhere they can go to stop this stuff that’s happening.”
Mr Styles told the Katherine Times he was eager to sit down with stakeholders in the town to discuss what would be needed to improve outcomes for local youth.
“As Minister for Young Territorians, I am committed to taking a local approach to youth services,” he said.
“I am focussed on providing neighbourhood activity centres that can provide a whole-of-community contribution to providing opportunities to all youth to engage in after school activities.”
Member for Katherine Willem Westra van Holthe slammed the concept of vigilantism, adding that a youth drop-in centre was “under consideration” by the Northern Territory government and had his full support.
“I have raised the idea of a youth drop-in centre for Katherine with the Minister for Young Territorians,” he said.
“I am absolutely opposed to vigilante behaviour.
“If someone is doing the wrong thing, phone the police.
“Do not take matters in to your own hands. "
