Antisocial Behaviour

In reply to the Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK ().18 February 2025).

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector, Special Minister of State): The Minister for Human Services has advised:

Remote Aboriginal visitors currently in Adelaide are predominantly from the Alice Springs region in the Northern Territory, and Anangu from the APY lands in South Australia.

A range of support services are provided to remote visitors, particularly through the Department of Human Services (DHS) as the chair of the multiagency Safety and Wellbeing Taskforce, as well as by SAPOL and DASSA. These include:

a remote visitor outreach team (RVOT) comprising of cultural advisors, outreach staff, clinical staff and social workers to support visitors with ID, housing, transport, Return to Country, booking appointments, accessing health care, diversionary activities, and referrals to appropriate services. The RVOT also works closely with SA Housing Trust's Wali Wiru team and other housing bodies to support overcrowded tenancies.

the Safer Place to Gather (SPTG) at Edwards Park: a temporary, culturally inclusive space, where remote Aboriginal visitors can seek shelter and access support services in a safe setting. The SPTG is serviced by a multi-agency, integrated outreach model, with the RVOT, SAPOL and other service providers attending the site daily.

a Return to Country (RtC) program, with transport options to support remote visitors in Adelaide wishing to return to their home communities

daily transport options out of the CBD, such as a safety and wellbeing transport service operating between 6pm and 3am and a mobile assistance patrol (MAP) bus that operates 4pm – 12am.

DHS, SAPOL and DASSA attending a community safety meeting held by the City of Adelaide (CoA) in January 2025 to discuss community concerns regarding Whitmore Square.

the RVOT attending Whitmore Square on weekday mornings to engage with people who are sleeping rough or congregating in the area. CoA is also attending daily to undertake general maintenance and cleaning.

DASSA providing outreach at the SPTG, along with other locations including Whitmore Square, through its mobile alcohol and other drugs (AOD) clinic and assertive outreach program. These services complement the SPTG by delivering health care that aligns with the DHS RVOT and RtC programs, providing an important entry point for individuals to engage with AOD treatment options. By offering early interventions and ongoing support, they also play a key role in hospital avoidance, helping to reduce preventable emergency department presentations and ensuring individuals receive appropriate care in community-based settings.

SAPOL's Operation Paragon in the Adelaide CBD, which is focused on addressing alcohol related antisocial behaviour in the CBD and facilitating access to support services that address the health and welfare needs of at-risk individuals in the community.

In addition to Operation Paragon, SAPOL's Operation Focus commenced 23 January 2025 in response to an increase in antisocial and criminal behaviour in and around the North Terrace precinct largely associated with the remote visitor groups within the CBD. Operation Focus provides a highly visible policing response resourced by operational police from Eastern District supported by the other three metropolitan districts. Operation Focus works in conjunction with DHS and DASSA support services and will operate until 3 April 2025 or until such time as there is a significant reduction in the incidents of antisocial behaviour amongst the remote visitor groups.

With regard to your comments on the accessibility of alcohol in the CBD, I can advise that in November 2024, the SA Liquor Licensing Authority, Adelaide CBD bottle shops, SAPOL and the CoA entered into a liquor accord to help address antisocial behaviour associated with takeaway liquor in the CBD.