Tourism Central Australia makes an urgent plea for action on crime ‘crisis’
A Territory tourism heavyweight has made a bold plea for help as Alice Springs deals with a crime”crisis”. Vote in our poll to tell us if you’ve been a victim of crime.
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One of the Territory’s top tourism bodies has made a plea to the NT government to immediately take action on a “crime crisis” in Alice Springs.
Tourism Central Australia’s group of nearly 70 members has unanimously passed a motion to request “immediate action” to enforce law and order for the safety of residents, tourists and business operators in the Red Centre.
TCA chief executive Danial Rochford said government inaction was at risk of jeopardising the tourism industry for years to come.
“Our organisation is here to promote visitation, so calling out the crime crisis is a testament to the problems we’re facing,” Mr Rochford said.
“It is at a level never seen before.
“We’re seeing ram raids, we’re seeing assaults, we’re seeing vandalism on multiple occasions every day.
“Last week we had an incident in the Alice Springs Visitor Information Centre where a 61-year-old lady, a tourist, was allegedly king hit by another woman in a completely unprovoked incident.
“It’s the straw that broke the camel’s back from our perspective.”
On Thursday, a man visiting the Red Centre from Tasmania has his sedan stolen within his first 24 hours in Alice Springs.
Last week, a 33-year-old woman was leaving Alice Springs’ Todd Mall when she allegedly had her handbag stolen by a group of youths.
Police said it would be alleged the victim followed the children to the corner of Gregory Terrace and Hartley Street, where she was assaulted.
Alice Springs Community Safety and Social Order members arrested three girls, aged 13, 13 and 15, a short time later.
A 13-year-old has also since been charged with aggravated assault.
Chief Minister Natasha Fyles says she is “incredibly frustrated and disappointed” at the recent reports of crime.
“I want Territorians to know we are leaving no stone unturned,” she said.
“We have had a special project in Alice Springs that’s making sure all aspects that are dealing with these issues are working together.
“That’s been a significant body of work making sure that we’ve got government resources, private resources and council working together on the same page to overcome these issues.
“We have provided additional funding to the Sunset School so that when young people, if it is young people involved in activity that is risky, before it turns to criminal behaviour, have a place to go.
“These are incredibly complex issues to solve.”
Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Tourism and Hospitality Nicole Manison also met with Mr Rochford in Tennant Creek on Wednesday to discuss TCA’s motion.
Independent Araluen MLA Robyn Lambley said the Labor Government had “sat on its hands for five years”.
“It’s a complex issue but that doesn’t meant you don’t do anything – you do more,” she said.
“I respect Danial for speaking out and I understand how hard it must be for him.
“But it has reached a point where we all must speak out.
“There will not be a life for any of us in this town if the level of crime in this town continues.
“We’re at a critical point – it is a crisis.”
Ms Lambley said she would reinstate remote youth centres if she had the powers to do so.
She would also work with child protection authorities to remove unsupervised children from the streets, as well as audit organisations that are funded to solve anti-social issues and improve school attendance.
“Children roaming around streets at night are at risk of abuse and neglect,” Ms Lambley said.
“They need intensive case management with as many people employed as it needs to find out who these children belong to and why they’re behaving in this way.
“Why can’t we take them to a safe place where they have some time out to sort out their problems?”
The NT’s only remote alternative to a youth detention centre, Loves Creek Station, was closed in 2017 because of infrastructure and safety issues.
“This town is full of extremely caring, kind and compassionate people,” Ms Lambley said.
“These issues are about a small group of people who have fallen through the cracks by successive governments over the years.”
Originally published as Tourism Central Australia makes an urgent plea for action on crime ‘crisis’
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