Published on Saturday, 8 August 2026 at 5:24:04 PM
Dear Chief Minister,
I am writing on behalf of Katherine Town Council’s Elected Members following another deeply
concerning and frightening incident involving youth crime in Katherine on the 6th of August.
Council is aware a group of young people stole a vehicle and drove it dangerously around Katherine for four to five hours. During that time, the vehicle was driven on roads, footpaths and through public spaces, with young people sitting in windows and hanging out of the vehicle.
It is our understanding that it came to an end after the offending vehicle collided with a member of the public’s vehicle. The offenders then fled on foot and, to the best of our knowledge, have not faced any consequence.
What is particularly concerning is that, despite the length and very public nature of the incident, there was no apparent police intervention and no warning to residents about the potential danger. The warnings that did come were from residents posting videos of the hooning on social media to alert the community.
There may have been operational circumstances at play, but so far there has been no public explanation. People in Katherine are asking how something like this could continue for hours without a response. They are frightened, frustrated and increasingly angry.
This is not about one incident. It comes on top of repeated serious youth offending and growing concern about community safety in Katherine that has been the subject of previous correspondence to your office.
Earlier this year I asked you to support a community safety roundtable in Katherine. The intention was not to create another meeting or talkfest. It was to get the people who know this community, together with the people who have the authority and resources to make decisions, around the same table to work out what more can be done.
In your response, you pointed to increased police resources, improving crime statistics and the existing inter-agency crime prevention group as evidence that current measures are working.
Whatever the statistics may show, that is not how many people in Katherine are experiencing their town at the moment.
There is a growing gap between what government processes and statistics are telling us and what people are seeing and experiencing. That gap is damaging confidence and creating real anger in our community.
As the level of government most closely connected to our community, we have continued to pursue action to our best ability. In June, Council resolved to pursue a Katherine Youth Emergency Response, a short-term program aimed at interrupting the cycle of youth offending. We approached Commonwealth Ministers and agencies and are working with First Nations leaders and local organisations to try to get it off the ground. Back to Aboriginals Corporation is now pursuing funding through the Local Investment Fund.
First Nations leaders have also put forward ideas, including a curfew and further alcohol restrictions. Those suggestions were raised with Police in July and were not supported.
We understand that not every idea put forward by the community will be workable. But people need somewhere to put those ideas. They need to know they are being heard, that proposals will be properly considered and, where they have merit, that someone has the authority to act on them.
So I am asking you again to consider a community safety roundtable for Katherine.
If you remain of the view that a roundtable is not needed, then please tell us what alternative you propose.
How can the Katherine community meaningfully participate in finding solutions? How can residents, First Nations leaders, businesses and community organisations put forward recommendations, have them properly considered by the people who can make decisions, and see action come from them?
We would also like NT Police and the Territory Government to explain what occurred on 6th of August, including why there was no apparent intervention over such a long period and why no warning was issued to the community while the vehicle was being driven dangerously through public areas.
We know there is no simple answer to youth crime. We know Police and other agencies are dealing with difficult and complex circumstances. But complexity cannot mean accepting the status quo.
Katherine people are asking what can be done. Council is trying to develop practical responses. First Nations leaders and community organisations are willing to be part of the solution. We need the Territory Government at the table with us before our two greatest fears are realised – that an utter tragedy will occur in our town, and that vigilante residents will take matters into their own hands.
Yours sincerely,
Joanna Holden Mayor
Katherine Town Council
On behalf of Katherine Town Council’s Elected Members: Deputy Mayor Mel Doyle, Councillors Toni Coutts, Kathy Glass, Kathryn Whitehouse, Jim King and Anjali Palmer.
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