Alice Springs crisis talks
PM to host special NT and Fed Govt meeting
ANTHONY Albanese will host crisis talks between the federal and territory governments on Thursday as he seeks solutions to the surge in crime and anti-social behaviour in Alice Springs.
Northern Territory chief minister Natasha Fyles and her Attorney-general, Chansey Peach, will travel to Canberra ahead of the meeting to discuss long-term solutions.
A snap review into the situation by newly appointed Central Australia regional controller Dorelle Anderson was handed to both governments on Wednesday.
The report is expected to canvass whether bans should be implemented and review the current opt-in alcohol ban scheme.
Ms Fyles indicated the report would be made public, but could not say when.
“It will be made public. Not in the next couple of days, people would appreciate that we are not taking a knee-jerk reaction, that we are working through this thoroughly with the Commonwealth Government,” she said in Darwin.
Indigenous Australians minister Linda Burney said the report would reflect the “statistics and harm being done” as a result of alcohol in the Outback town.
“We expect the report to reflect what is going on in the community and some recommendations about a way forward,” she said.
Ms Burney indicated nothing would be off the table as the government considers the report’s recommendations.
In an emergency visit last week, Mr Albanese and Ms Fyles announced a threemonth ban on the sale of takeaway alcohol in the region on Monday and Tuesdays, and reduced trading hours on other days. A limit of one purchase per person per day was also introduced.
Speaking on Tuesday, Mr Albanese said he wanted “full solutions” to the problems facing the Outback community.
“All governments could have done better over a long period of time on all of these issues,” he said in Canberra on Tuesday.
“The truth is many of these issues are intergenerational … that’s why we need to listen to communities about what their needs are.”
Alice Springs mayor Matt Paterson expressed frustration that the federal government had ignored the problem for so long.
“We keep hearing ‘it’s a complex problem’. Certainly not a problem that’s snuck up on us,” he said.
“I wrote to the Prime Minister – the former prime minister – in January last year. Almost a year ago.”
He said the review must go beyond considering alcohol restrictions.
“Alcohol‘s only one of the problems that we face over here. There’s this whole antisocial behaviour issue and why we have got children on the street,” Mr Paterson said.
“Why do we have 50, 60, 70, 80 kids on the street any given night?
“The reality is because for these kids, it is safer for them to be on the street than at home.”