Call to ban illegal curses

Aborigines have asked the Northern Territory government to ban unauthorised curses because they are disrupting their communities, Reuter reports from Sydney. The Northern Territory Solicitor-General, Tom Pauling, said yesterday that eight aboriginal communities want the law changed so that people making unauthorised curses could be prosecuted. In the aboriginal community only tribal elders may authorise a curse. 'Disgruntled people get annoyed . . . and put a curse on community assets, such as stores, schools and banking agencies,' said Mr Pauling. 'Until the appropriate authority comes to lift the curse, the facilities are closed. People are afraid to use them while they are cursed.'