The remote Kimberley community of Kununurra is sounding the alarm on a youth crime crisis they say stems from a fundamentally broken system. While vandalism, break-ins, and violence plague the town, locals are united in their message to authorities: taking children away from their families would only compound the problem.
A Community Under Siege
Residents describe a town living in fear, with businesses repeatedly targeted and homes broken into. "We're living in a war zone," one local business owner revealed, speaking of nightly security patrols and constant property damage. The frustration is palpable, with many feeling abandoned by government systems meant to protect them.
Systemic Failures Exposed
Community leaders point to multiple system failures driving the crisis:
- Inadequate housing creating overcrowded, unstable living conditions
- Limited youth services leaving young people with nowhere to go
- Mental health support gaps failing to address trauma and addiction
- Education barriers preventing consistent school attendance
Waringarri Aboriginal Corporation executive director Mary Aiken emphasised that removing children from the community would sever crucial cultural connections. "When you take our kids away, you're taking away their identity, their connection to country," she explained.
Intergenerational Trauma and Current Realities
The shadow of the Stolen Generations looms large in community discussions. Many elders remember when government policies forcibly removed Indigenous children from their families, creating trauma that echoes through generations.
"We're still healing from that," said one community elder. "Taking more children now would just reopen those wounds and create another lost generation."
Searching for Real Solutions
Rather than punitive measures, Kununurra residents advocate for:
- Community-led programs that engage youth through culture and sport
- Increased family support services to address issues at their source
- Proper youth facilities providing safe spaces and activities
- Collaboration between agencies to create wrap-around support
As one local parent put it: "These kids aren't bad - they're lost. They need guidance, not punishment. They need to know someone cares about them."
A Call for Systemic Change
The situation in Kununurra represents a microcosm of challenges facing many remote Australian communities. The message from the Kimberley is clear: short-term fixes won't solve deeply entrenched problems. What's needed is genuine partnership between government and communities to build systems that actually work for the people they're meant to serve.
As the debate continues, Kununurra residents remain determined to find solutions that keep families together while making their community safe - proving that sometimes the hardest problems require the most compassionate answers.
