Chief Minister Natasha Fyles to visit crime crisis in Alice Springs

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles will fly to Alice Springs while a Labor MP has joined calls for urgent action on alcohol policy.

The Chief Minister is set to fly to Alice Springs as pressure builds on all levels of government to take immediate action on Alice Springs crime.

Natasha Fyles travels to the Central Australian town on Tuesday.

Her visit comes as Opposition Leader Peter Dutton urged the Prime Minister to urgently head there.

“It’s completely unacceptable,” he said in a press conference on Monday.

“The Prime Minister should have been there by now, but he should go tomorrow, and I would be very happy to travel with him.

“This is an issue that is beyond politics.”

Mr Dutton’s calls follow those of CLP Senator Jacinta Price, who has revealed she is seeking to reintroduce alcohol bans under federal law.

Labor’s own Lingiari MP Marion Scrymgour has also pleaded with the Territory government to take urgent action in the wake of Stronger Futures alcohol bans ending.

“The mayor of Alice Springs as well as myself, we’ve said to the Northern Territory government someone is going to get killed,” Ms Scrymgour said on 3AW.

Lingiari MP Marion Scrymgour, who’s federal seat covers almost the entire Territory outside of Darwin, has pleaded with the NT government to tackle issues of alcohol abuse. Picture: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

“Are we going to wait until there is a death until there is any urgency put on this?

“Let’s stop pussy-footing around the issue of alcohol abuse.

“The Northern Territory government did nothing to put in place its own legislation (after Stronger Futures).

“What they did instead was to bring in a policy for communities to opt in.

“At the moment it’s all open slather.

“It is the Northern Territory government’s responsibility – the federal government has given (them) substantial resources.”

A police operation in Alice Springs. Picture: Liam Mendes/The Australian

Ms Fyles did not answer specific questions on whether her government would act on alcohol policy in light of the community’s calls.

“I will be in Alice Springs this week to meet with stakeholders and locals,” she said.

“We know the town has challenges and as a government we are doing everything we can to make Alice Springs a safer and more vibrant place to live.”

A federal government spokeswoman did not address whether the Prime Minister would visit Alice Springs.

“Reports about the level (sic) crime in Alice Springs are concerning. Everyone deserves to live in safe and healthy communities,” she said.

“We are focused on working in partnership with the NT Government and the local community, because we know that the best solutions come from local communities themselves.”

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Originally published as Chief Minister Natasha Fyles to visit crime crisis in Alice Springs