Indigenous leaders say help needed in SA town of Ceduna

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Indigenous leaders say more housing is urgently needed in the South Australian town of Ceduna to help deal with unacceptable levels of anti-social behaviour. New alcohol restrictions have been introduced with the aim of reducing public drinking.

Transcript

00:00 Unacceptable levels of anti-social behaviour and property crime are frustrating a growing

00:07 number of business owners in Seduna.

00:09 We're just crying out going, "Help us, we need assistance."

00:13 The police were under the pump.

00:15 They weren't responding quick enough to violence that was happening.

00:20 Fighting, arguing, drinking openly in the main street, just basic anti-social behaviour

00:27 which is just, it's embarrassing for those of us that love Seduna and live here.

00:31 In response, bans have been imposed on the sale of potent alcohol before midday.

00:36 But some locals say it's not enough.

00:39 Alcohol restrictions at the pub do nothing, absolutely nothing, because we pick up cars,

00:43 five litre cars that come from elsewhere, so they're not even, a lot of the alcohol

00:48 they're not even buying here, it comes in from other places.

00:51 Indigenous leaders are calling for urgent investment in jobs and housing.

00:55 With several homes here in Seduna boarded up despite a 10 year wait for public housing.

01:01 We really need to take a strong hard look at the housing issue, particularly in regional

01:06 centres and in Seduna particularly.

01:08 From temporary housing through to executive housing, I'm sure if we doubled our entire

01:14 stock with everything we would fill everything three times over.

01:18 Despite complex problems that lead to alcohol abuse, Indigenous leaders say it's a positive

01:24 community.

01:25 We've got a really great and vibrant place to live and it's a really great community.

01:31 Once we can move forward and get some of our social issues under control, we can have a

01:36 more positive light for everybody.

01:38 While alcohol restrictions are being tried in the short term, development of vacant public

01:43 housing sites like this one is seen by those dealing with the problems as a more permanent

01:48 solution.

01:49 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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