The observer, who only wished to be identified as “a regular patron of Kmart” said groups of up to nine juveniles cause disruptions in the area on weekends and in school hours. “They are both black and white, not just indigenous,” the observer said. 

But these juveniles were attention seekers and “lap up the publicity” from their behaviour, the observer said. 

The juveniles sit quietly in a group and wait until there are crowds of people in the area before they misbehave, which includes stealing from Coles, the observer said. 

 These juveniles also seem to know when security guards were coming to stop them, because they flee the scene before security arrives, the observer said. 

The Mount Isa City Council decided last week to delay the proposed “No School, No Service” policy, which would have encouraged businesses to ban children and juveniles from their stores during school hours for an undisclosed amount of time. 

The delay was due to written concerns by the Mount Isa Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Reference Group, which believed the policy could increase racial discrimination. 

The group suggested six other policies that could be enforced instead, including creating a forum for stakeholders and local school principals to discuss the best allocation of resources. 

Mayor Tony McGrady said the “No School, No Service” policy was not about “black versus white.” 

Parents and governments have the responsibility to do what they could to reduce truancy, he said. 

If people cared about the education of indigenous people they would support initiatives to try and get more children attending school, Cr McGrady said. 

The mayor said if anyone had proposals to decrease truancy and to offer equal opportunity then they should suggest them. But these should be initiatives that could begin “ASAP”. 

“The last thing we need is talkfests,” Cr McGrady said.