South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas has expressed his deep concern over footage showing teenagers engaging in organized fights, an activity he described as "completely unsafe" and perpetuating violence.
"Our kids should be taught how to respect one another, rather than violence to be displayed on social media," Malinauskas stated, adding that he has instructed the Attorney General and Police Minister to take all necessary actions to suppress this behavior.
The disturbing videos, some of which have been shared on YouTube and TikTok, depict organized bouts between teenagers, often refereed and sometimes including commentary on the participants' weight classes. One clip reportedly included a claim that a "knife got pulled" during a fight between two teenage boys. In another video, a teenage girl apologized to her opponent before striking her, only for the referee to encourage her to continue.
South Australia Police confirmed they are aware of the group and are actively investigating. A spokesperson stated that officers are working to identify the juveniles involved in these organized fights and their subsequent posting on social media, with those implicated facing potential charges for any identified offenses.
Local community members and sporting groups have voiced their unease, with some fights occurring on public grounds like Ridley Reserve, which is used by the Central Districts Softball Association. Kay Benger from the association expressed concerns about safety, questioning what would prevent participants from initiating fights with others using the facility.
Matt Cronin, founding director of the Pat Cronin Foundation, highlighted the severe potential consequences of such unsupervised fights, noting that a single punch can lead to devastating outcomes, including death. He urged those involved to consider the lifelong legal ramifications they could face if someone is seriously injured or killed.
"All it takes is one punch and the worst possible consequence from this is death," Cronin said, drawing from his own experience after his son Patrick died following a brawl ten years ago.
Police Minister Michael Brown echoed the gravity of the situation, emphasizing the extraordinary danger and the potential for two lives to be ruined by such "stupid activity." He has also requested social media platforms to remove the videos.
Despite the backlash, the group behind the fight club appeared unfazed, responding on its Instagram story by downplaying the seriousness of the situation and assuring followers that the fights would continue.
Some videos depict referees encouraging participants, with one instance involving a referee urging a teenage girl to "squeeze harder" during a chokehold, even after she expressed concern about her nose ring. Another clip noted a chipped tooth sustained by a teenage boy after his fight. It remains unclear if any participants suffered more serious injuries.