NT Chamber of Commerce says a crime ‘crisis’ is frustrating Territory businesses

Criminals are pushing Territory businesses owners to the brink. The Chamber of Commerce has pleaded for action on this and other factors.

Territory businesses are at breaking point amid a triple whammy of a lack of staff, rising costs and “crisis level” crime rates, according to the NT’s peak employer lobby.

Chamber of Commerce chief executive Greg Ireland said it was “obvious to all of us” that crime rates, “particularly in Central Australia and the Barkly Region”, were “running at crisis levels”.

Mr Ireland said business owners were suffering “physically, emotionally and financially”.

“Territory businesses are challenged with finding, retaining and upskilling staff, while battling the rising costs of doing business through increasing expenses of energy, freight, insurance, and many others,” he said.

The chamber CEO quoted an anonymous business owner who said crime and anti-social behaviour had “taken a huge financial and emotional toll” on them.

“This year I have had to spend $170,000 on upgraded fencing, repair broken windows and employ extra security,” they said.

“In addition, there is a drop in return business caused by safety fears of my clientele.

“My staff face abuse, assaults causing mental anguish, this includes my security guards who are also often the victim.”

Northern Territory Chamber of Commerce chief executive Greg Ireland.

Another business owner said crime and anti-social behaviour in Alice Springs was threatening the future of their operations.

“It has most certainly escalated in the last 18 months so obviously this impact effects my ability to earn an ongoing future income, thus effecting my family and employees,” they said.

The latest crime statistics show commercial break-ins in Alice Springs were up almost 60 per cent in the year to July, with residential burglaries also up about 35 per cent.

In Tennant Creek, house break-ins fell by 16.5 per cent during the same period, while commercial break and enters were stead at 116 over 12 months.

Mr Ireland said the chamber had been meeting with NT Police to express its “diminishing level of confidence” in them and “how this can be addressed and the response mechanisms that could have a positive impact”.

“We have committed our resources to participate in a soon-to-be-formed committee that will exist to drive positive impact through the social order response plan and hold key participants to account regarding the outcomes,” he said.

“It remains clear, though, that not enough has been done, that the root cause of the issues has not been addressed and that the countermeasures remain ineffective in stemming the damage being done. The community deserves a better outcome.

“Indeed, we all demand better results, and we all have roles to contribute towards a safer and more secure environment.”

NT Police Assistant Commissioner Martin Dole said the force was “committed to combating anti-social and criminal behaviour throughout the Territory”.

“In August of this year, the social order response team was established in Alice Springs to improve social order and safety outcomes by utilising a range of government, non-government and community organisations,” he said.

“As members of the team, NT Police have met with numerous stakeholders, including local businesses, to discuss what the community wants to see from police.

“This has included our recently increased patrol presence throughout the Alice Springs CBD and higher visibility community policing.”

Mr Dole said it was “pleasing to see stakeholders committed to coming together to combat this issue and police will remain committed to ensuring community safety”.