NT top cop speaks on Townsville’s ‘significant’ issues ahead of PM’s Alice Springs visit

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is being urged not to forget about the crime crisis also unfolding in Townsville as he visits Alice Springs today amid calls for federal intervention.

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is being urged not to forget about the crime crisis also unfolding in Townsville as he visits Alice Springs amid calls for federal intervention.

Mr Albanese is expected to visit Alice Springs on Tuesday in response to calls for the nation’s leader to visit the town and witness its crime crisis first-hand.

However, NT Police Commissioner James Chalker said these crime problems go beyond Alice Springs.

“I think you’d be critically aware that Townsville is suffering significant social order issues as well … So I don’t think it’s as simple as being a Northern Territory point of failing,” he told ABC Radio Darwin.

“There is something acutely underlying here.”

NT Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker. Picture: Glenn Campbell

It comes as car thefts continue to plague Townsville, with about 1300 unlawful use of motor vehicle offences reported in the last year.

Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto said until the youth crime issues are resolved across the Northern Territory and Queensland, the Prime Minister had “no hope of gaining support for a Voice to Parliament up here in the north.”

“If the Prime Minister is visiting Alice Springs to address the community about the crime crisis that is gripping the city, then he certainly should be including Townsville in his trip as a city that is also under siege by youth criminals,” he said.

“Equally, the PM can’t overlook the cities of Cairns and Mount Isa as they are plagued with similar crime figures and every night across these Queensland cities is like a real life nightmare for residents.”

Herbert MP Phil Thompson accused Mr Albanese of “choosing to ignore” the crime crisis in Townsville when he visited earlier this month.

The PM was briefly in town to visit Ark Energy and Sun Metals in Stuart on January 14.

“The Prime Minister flew into Townsville for a photo op and to refuel his plane,” Mr Thompson said.

Herbert MP Phil Thompson (right). Picture: Evan Morgan

“When he was here a couple of weekends ago, he didn’t announce anything to do with crime.

“In the last Budget, the Albanese Labor Government cut another round of the Safer Communities Program, which was to fund a further $3.3m in crime prevention and early intervention programs in Townsville.

“Last term, I was able to secure funding for early intervention programs, so we know the Federal Government can play a role.

“Both federal and state Labor governments want to raise the age of criminal responsibility, which would see the crime crisis we have in Townsville and the Northern Territory worsen. I will fight against this plan.”

It comes as new shocking data revealing more than half of youths sentenced to detention or probation in Queensland are back before a court within 12 months.

Mr Albanese’s office has been contacted for comment.

Correction: This article previously contained an error that there had been about 13,000 unlawful use of motor vehicle offences reported in Townsville in the last year. The correct figure is about 1300.

Originally published as NT top cop speaks on Townsville’s ‘significant’ issues ahead of PM’s Alice Springs visit