Aid agencies flooded with refugees fleeing outbreak of violence

A political row has erupted after Aborigines who were escaping a family feud arrive in Adelaide. Photo / Supplied

CANBERRA - Welfare agencies in Adelaide have been overwhelmed by refugees from a violent feud in a remote Aboriginal community on the fringe of the Tanami Desert, 300km northwest of Alice Springs.

More than 100 men, women and children, some requiring urgent medical attention, arrived in the South Australian capital without warning after an arduous 1800km trek in a journey that is now causing furious political rows and tensions between the State and Northern Territory governments.

Although apparently organised by an Aboriginal community organisation, the journey was made against the advice of NT Police working to negotiate peace between warring family groups in the town of Yuendumu.

"What sort of reckless idiot would encourage 109 people - elderly people, people with illnesses, children - to get on buses and go to Adelaide without any consultation with the SA authorities to accommodate these people, no plan to return those people," NT Chief Minister Paul Henderson said.

The exodus followed a period of simmering anger that flared into two days of rioting last week after a Yuendumu man was stabbed to death in a brawl in Alice Springs.

It has drawn further attention to the deep problems afflicting remote indigenous communities, including violence, alcohol and substance abuse, wife-beating, and child abuse.

Disturbing reports focusing on child sexual abuse, against a background of poverty, poor housing and water supplies, unemployment, disease and early death, led to the federal intervention in the NT launched by John Howard's former conservative Government and continued under Labor.

Yuendumu has for years been a "dry" town, but alcohol continues to be smuggled in and domestic violence remains a serious issue.

But the town - a major centre of indigenous art - has made significant strides, with locals awarded the Order of Australia for establishing a night patrol that keeps the streets clear of problems after dark, and a ground-breaking substance abuse prevention and diversion programme.

The community also opened a safe house for women and children, and diverted A$400,000 ($522,500) from mining royalties to build a swimming pool.

Last week Yuendumu was torn apart. A Yuendumu man was killed during a fight at a town camp on the outskirts of Alice Springs in which several others were injured.

Two men were arrested and charged in connection with the death.

In Yuendumu as many as 50 people took to the streets with steel bars, spears, and large wooden clubs called nulla nullas, on a rampage that forced about 100 members of a rival family group to flee for safety.

A house and six cars were torched, and 17 people arrested.

Police moved to protect the people targeted by the rioters, establishing a secure area, pulling in officers from surrounding districts, and sending a tactical response team. The town was locked down, road blocks were set up to intercept alcohol runs, and travellers were advised to steer well clear.

The threatened group was first moved to safety in Alice Springs, but this week arrived unannounced, and without shelter or food, in Adelaide.

The unexpected move angered police, who had been working with elders to negotiate a settlement, and infuriated Henderson.

"I'm certainly unhappy because at the end of the day we did have a very serious situation at Yuendumu that police responded to and, quite appropriately, police were wanting to sit down with traditional owners, elders in that community, and get a resolution," he said on ABC radio.

"Now that's very hard to do when some of the key people who were to be part of that discussion have disappeared down to Adelaide."

Henderson has blamed the NT Opposition for the exodus. In reply, Opposition MLA Adam Giles said the group turned to him for help because the Government was not interested, and accused Henderson of using the crisis to divert attention from a new, unpopular, tax.