TRANSCRIPT
- An immediate 3-day curfew in Alice Springs
- A plan to ban sex services from the National Disability Insurance Scheme proves controversial
- Coco Gauff and Emma Raducanu say goodbye to quarter-final hopes at Wimbledon
Northern Territory Police have announced a snap 3-day curfew in Alice Springs which will begin at 10pm tonight and apply to both adults and children.
Anyone in the C-B-D between 10pm and 6am will need to prove a lawful reason, including work or fleeing domestic violence.
The announcement follows allegations a group attacked four off-duty police officers, with two female officers hospitalised with minor injuries.
A previous three-week curfew in April applied only to under-18s and began at 6pm.
In May, the N-T parliament passed controversial legislation which made it easier for the police to announce 3-day "snap" lockdowns, with the possibility of extension.
N-T Police Commissioner Michael Murphy says he has considered the timing of events for NAIDOC Week which celebrates Indigenous culture, history and achievements.
"I'm very aware it's a very important week for the Territory and Australia in NAIDOC week, I don't want to be disruptive. We will still have a policing presence, but only the declared area will come into force between 10pm and 6am. And yes it is a curfew and it applies to all classes of people. It'll apply to adults, it'll apply to youth, it'll apply to everyone."
Indigenous leaders in the N-T say the announcement of a curfew in Alice Springs undermines the positive messaging of NAIDOC Week.
N-T Police Commissioner Michael Murphy says 10pm is a "reasonable time" to begin the curfew and allows children and adults to attend NAIDOC events.
But NAIDOC committee member and Arrente woman Cherisse Buzzacott says it undermines the celebration's positive messaging, and says the timing during school holidays is difficult for families.
Shortly before the curfew was made official, Ms Buzzacott told NITV it's another example of Indigenous people not being consulted about decisions that affect them.
"For us it's... we recognise that there are a lot more different layers to the problem, that it's not just a simple problem. There are so many different things that we need to support. And if we're putting in curfews, we need to put in meaningful actions. We need to be talking to community and talking to people that are at the centre. We need to be talking to young people and we need to be bringing them and supporting them, not shunning them and saying 'don't come to our events'. Because they're the people - our most vulnerable people."
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Melbourne Airport hopes planning discussions for the rail-link project will recommence immediately, after executives compromised and agreed to a build an above-ground station.
The $10 billion dollar project linking Melbourne Airport to the rail system has been in a long-running stalemate over whether the station would be above or below ground.
The Victorian government has said an underground station would take too long to build and be too expensive.
On Monday, Melbourne Airport C-E-O Lorie Argus said Victorians have waited too long for an airport rail line, and the airport is willing to compromise to get the project back on track.
The stand-off had pushed the original completion date back to 2033, but Ms Argus says she hopes it can now be built sooner.
"Our view is any rail is better than no rail. So the time is now to compromise and accept the above-ground solution so that we can get on and build this desperately-need airport rail link and ensure that we deliver the aviation growth into the future."
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Disability organisations are concerned the government's plan to ban sex services from the National Disability Insurance Scheme will impact the human rights of N-D-I-S users.
Current NDIS rules allow some participants to claim sex services as part of their personal budget, which NDIS Minister Bill Shorten plans to change as part of broader reforms.
The government failed to pass its NDIS bill before the mid-winter break, after the Coalition and Greens sent the bill to a senate committee.
People with Disability Australia president Marayke Jonkers says sex service providers help participants in a range of ways.
"Two people who both have a physical disability, and the Australian courts have recognised sex is a human rights, a part of everyday life. Now (if) this couple need assistance to get into position to have sex, do we expect anyone who cooks, cleans, or provides other services in the house to assist them in the act of having sex? Or perhaps would that best be performed by someone with specialised services."
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In tennis,
Reigning U-S Open champion Coco Gauff has been ousted at Wimbledon by Emma Navarro, as the Number 19 seed continues her breakout season to reach her first Grand Slam quarter-final.
Navarro controlled the round of 16 match against Gauff, winning 6-4, 6-3 in just 74 minutes.
Gauff praised the performance of her fellow American.
"I would say that's probably one of the better matches she's played this year, and it's kudos to her. I knew she was going to play well, and I think I have the ability to play my level when players play well, and I feel like I didn't do that today."
