An influential aboriginal group has claimed that legalising pepper spray in the Northern Territory will make racial divisions worse, “fuel violence”, and “criminalise” indigenous people.
The NT government this week announced a 12-month trial allowing members of the public to carry low-percentage Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) spray for self-defence as part of a broader effort to stop rampant aboriginal crime.
Country Liberal Party Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro, who has also introduced stricter bail laws, lowered the age of criminal responsibility, and promised to reverse anti-discrimination laws, said the trial would give people “more choice when it comes to personal safety”.
“We’re strengthening the frontline with more police, stronger laws and better prevention, but we also believe individuals should have lawful tools to protect themselves if needed,” she said.
The OC spray will be available to purchase from licensed dealers on September 1 for those who are over 18, have NT photo ID and no serious criminal history or domestic violence orders.
But peak indigenous healthcare organisation the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory said on Wednesday it “condemned” the trial and claimed allowing the use of pepper spray for self-defence would “place more lives at risk”.
“Weaponising people and allowing wider access to a harmful substance like OC spray won’t fix violence – it will fuel it. This decision will cause harm, deepen community distrust, and exacerbate already dangerous racial divisions,” CEO Dr John Paterson said.
“This is another example of the systemic criminalisation of Aboriginal people. It puts more vulnerable people in harm’s way, instead of addressing the root causes of violence and disadvantage.
“Expanding access to OC spray will only lead to more violence, more people being criminalised, and more pressure on a justice system that’s already stretched beyond breaking point. This is a pressure fuse.”
The trial comes in response to increasing concerns about public safety as a result of a territory-wide aboriginal crime wave that last year resulted in Alice Springs being ranked the 18th most dangerous city in the world, and a Labor MP warning White women were being targeted for rape and robbery.
The NT has Australia’s highest imprisonment rate with 1.2% of the population in jail, and if it was a country would be second only to El Salvador, where 1.65% are behind bars.
Despite being just 26.3% of the NT population, indigenous people make up about 90% of the territory’s adult prisoners and almost 100% of youth detainees, according to government data.
A similar pepper spray trial is underway in Western Australia, where the indigenous imprisonment rate is the highest in Australia at 4,755.4 per 100,000 people, followed by the NT on 3,850.6.
Header image: Stock image of pepper spray for self-defence (Björn Hansson – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link).
