A Northern Territory mayor is resisting calls to resign after “disturbing” and “sickening” video footage emerged showing him pinning down an Aboriginal boy while a man threatened to “kill” and “punch” the child.
The video shows Jeffrey McLaughlin, who is mayor of Barkly regional council, which takes in large swathes of outback NT, sitting on the boy, who is understood to be 12 years old.
Another man is seen threatening the child, saying, “You’re lucky I don’t punch you right in the head,” and if he “catches you around here again, I will kill you” while pressing his boot on the child’s head.
In a statement released on social media, McLaughlin said the 4o-second video had been released for “political reasons” and did not show the full interaction which he said had lasted for about 20 minutes.
He said the Barkley region and central Australia was in the “grips of a youth crime epidemic” and that the video depicted a lawful citizen’s arrest, claiming the boy had been trying to break into his family home.
“The force I used to apprehend the youth was entirely reasonable in the circumstances,” McLaughlin said. “I immediately called NT Police and requested their attendance at the scene.”
He said the “spontaneous remarks and conduct” of the second man in the footage had been “rightly described as inappropriate” but he said he had not made those comments nor had he encouraged the man’s actions.
McLaughlin said his conduct was lawful and did not conflict with his public duties.
The mayor and Barkly regional council have been contacted for further comment. The NT police assistant commissioner for crime Travis Wurst said the force was aware of the footage and was investigating.
The video has prompted calls for McLaughlin to resign. On Sunday about two dozen locals gathered inTennant Creek to protest against the mayor’s actions. They called for his resignation, with some holding signs saying “Black Lives Matter” and “Enough is Enough”.
Catherine Liddle, the chief executive of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children’s peak group National Voice for our Children, labelled the video “disturbing” and “sickening”.
“No matter what this child is alleged to have done, this is unacceptable behaviour from two grown men, especially from a person who is meant to be a community leader,” Liddle said.
The Arrernte and Luritja woman said the video was inexcusable, addding: “We cannot ignore this sort of behaviour and violent threats made towards children. I call on Mr McLaughlin to do the right thing, set an example to his community, and resign immediately.”
NT Minister for Local Government, Chansey Paech said he was “horrified” at the footage and called for McLaughlin to step aside while an investigation is underway.
“I am both alarmed and horrified at the contents of the video.
“This is completely unacceptable behaviour and I call on Mr McLaughlin to review his future as an elected public official, and to immediately step aside while the investigation into the matter is undertaken.” Paech said.
While the national children’s commissioner, Anne Hollonds, said the footage was “disgraceful and distressing” and said McLaughlin’s conduct was highly concerning.
“These actions on the face of it are unlawful and there needs to be action,” Hollonds said.
She said upholding the human rights of vulnerable children was paramount:“What is happening to ensure the human rights of children are being protected? What the hell is going and who’s accountable for the human rights of children in that jurisdiction?”
