Alice Springs mayor Matt Paterson calls on AFL to invest in remote communities

As NT Chief Minister Natasha Fyles heads to Canberra for crisis talks with the PM over Alice Springs’ situation, the town’s mayor is hopeful of seizing momentum for long-term solutions.

Alice Springs mayor Matt Paterson has declared this a “game-changing time” with the national spotlight on the ongoing crime wave pivotal to creating change.

The Central Australia town has long grappled with crime from break-ins and stolen vehicles to assaults and domestic violence.

In January, the issue came to a head with Mr Paterson calling for the military or the Australian Federal Police to go to Alice Springs to help police resourcing.

The call was promptly turned down, but the cry for help was noticed and a spotlight was put on the town which for a time assumed it would fight the crime wave on its own.

After increased media attention, particularly following Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s whirlwind visit, Mr Paterson said he believed “people (were) hopeful of change” for Alice Springs.

Alice Springs mayor Matt Paterson says the town is still anxious, but there is glimmers of hope following media spotlight.

And he also believes this is a “game changing” time for the Central Australia town with the outcomes potentially deciding its future.

“People are still incredibly anxious, but we’re now in the media, we’re talking about change and so there’s hope for change,” Mr Paterson said.

“The needle is now in the middle, this is a game changing time for Alice Springs.

“Do we turn into a service town or do we fix the problem and address it and deal with the issues?

“People are hopeful now, but there’s still anxiety within the community.”

Mr Paterson said he wanted to see Alice Springs flourish.

“I’m an Alice Springs native. I’m 31 years old and I’ve lived here all my life, this is where I’m raising my children,” he said.

“I want Alice Springs to flourish, I don’t want to see it effectively on fire and that’s where it is at the moment.

“It’s a sad state of affairs, but I still have hope it can be changed and fixed.”

It comes after the KTM Australian Junior Motocross Championships, set to be held in July, were moved from the Red Centre due to safety concerns.

It’s the first sporting event to be cancelled in Central Australia because of the crime wave as other local competitions such as rugby union and cricket go on.

However, Mr Paterson called on sporting bodies, particularly the AFL, to invest more in the town and remote communities to create better pathways for kids.

“It’s clearly upsetting for the community, particularly the motorcycling community to see that cancelled.

“I’m disappointed it has been and my heart goes out to those that are affected, but we’re in the media for the wrong reasons and until people start listening nothing will change.”