Alice Springs’ CAFL community competition not consulted in social order plan
The Territory government’s answer to Alice Springs’ social crisis failed to consult AFLNT on decisions about community footy. Here’s how bush players have been let down.
Northern Territory
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One of the Territory government’s key moves to solve a social crisis in Alice Springs had failed to consult AFLNT on community football decisions.
The government in August established a group, paired with $2.5m in funding, to address family dysfunction, crime and anti-social behaviour in the regional town.
The Social Order Response Team Implementation Council, made up of senior representatives from local and Territory governments, police and business groups among others, set a range of goals to improve issues around alcohol, transport, sport, homelessness and youth.
Their plan, released publicly in October, included a point to “work with communities and AFLNT to support community football on communities” by March 2023.
However the head of AFLNT Sam Gibson and chairman Sean Bowden said SORT and AFLNT did not meet until months after plan was made.
“No consultation with AFLNT occurred in devising the (SORT) plan,” a letter to Alice Springs Town Council read.
“In January 2023 AFLNT held an initial discussion with SORT around this and outlined the barriers that exist from a facilities point of view, the various logistical challenges and the capacity that needs to be built within communities to successfully facilitate the shift.
“Off the back of the Social Order Response Plan members of the Alice Springs Town Council have renewed their calls for the community competition to be moved out of Alice Springs.
“There are also other pockets of the community that have supported these calls.”
Police Minister Kate Worden said AFL, as a sport, was “incredibly important and a big part of the Central Australian region”.
She said regular fixtures in remote communities was the ultimate goal, and the government’s investment in infrastructure “over time” had been “significant”.
“To sustain a football competition in remote communities for the long-term, we are working with the regional councils who own and manage community assets and AFL NT to ensure we have a comprehensive plan to guide our future investments into remote sporting facilities,” she said.
“For 2023, we are working with AFL NT, other key stakeholders and communities to develop and deliver a revised competition schedule and format for the Central Australian Football League competition.”
The letter was sent to Alice Springs Town Council ahead of the shock move on Tuesday to withdraw support for a community footy season.
The season typically saw 1500 remote residents travel into Alice Springs for weekly games.
Indigenous councillor and Alyawerre man Michael Liddle raised a motion to withdraw the council’s support for the competition being played at council-owned venues, which a majority of councillors supported.
Mr Bowden and Mr Gibson said they remained committed to AFLNT’s principles of offering football to young people in Central Australia and overcoming the “significant deficit in remote facilities” through targeted investment.
They said the organisation had been working on a strategy to develop a costed plan for remote facilities, which could include several hubs throughout Central Australia.
“A key action to progress our strategy is the formation of a working group led by AFLNT which includes key stakeholders,” their letter read.
“AFLNT has written to the Minister for Sport around this.
“The Department of Territory Families has subsequently indicated their support for this and nominated a senior representative to be part of the working group.
“The Central Land Council has also indicated that they support this strategy and will also join the working group.”
AFLNT also said they had had some “preliminary” discussions with other possible stakeholders including police and Traditional Owners, while the sports organisation invited Alice Springs Town Council to join the group.
The NT government allocated $1.75m to remote and regional councils for community infrastructure grants, of which $550,000 went to Central Australian community oval upgrades, and $1.3m has been allocated to the MacDonnell Regional Council for lighting upgrades at Ntaria Oval.
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Originally published as Alice Springs’ CAFL community competition not consulted in social order plan
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