Burney, Scrymgour and McCarthy visit Alice Springs on $250m federal promise
Federal politicians have again visited Alice Springs on the back of a $250m Central Australia package. Read what we know about the funding roll out.
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The delivery of a $250m lifeline to Central Australia appears to have taken its first steps forward.
Three federal politicians flew into Alice Springs after their first week of parliament sittings, swapping Canberra for conversations with Red Centre leaders.
Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney, Lingiari MP Marion Scrymgour and NT Senator Malarndirri McCarthy met with a range of Alice locals on Friday, from Aboriginal grandmothers to tourism heads and health organisations.
“(The trip) is really not about anything other than listening to people to think how best we can use the resources that have been identified for Central Australia,” Ms Burney said.
“It’s also really important to have the community feel confident that you’re available, that you’re very committed to talking to them and that is extraordinarily important to me.”
Ms Burney said the $250m federal investment was designed to “improve community safety, tackle alcohol-related harm, and provide more opportunities for young people” in Central Australia.
It follows the advice of a snap report by the newly-appointed regional controller Dorelle Anderson, who will play a key role in advising where the money will go.
It remains unclear whether further reports by Ms Anderson will be publicly released, or when the new funding will hit the ground.
The Territory government is also expected to pass legislation next week to reinstate alcohol bans, on Ms Anderson’s advice.
The federal trio met with the Strong Grandmothers Group, the Tangentyere Women’s Family Safety Group, the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, Alice Springs mayor Matt Paterson, Tourism Central Australia and other stakeholders.
Their visit comes as the NT Police Commissioner and Katherine mayor raise concerns that people have travelled north in the wake of new alcohol restrictions and a heightened police presence in Alice Springs.
Ms Burney said while the federal government had made previous commitments to the wider Territory, they were “looking at what’s needed in Central Australia.”
“There has been already commitments made in the lead up to the election for the whole of the Northern Territory, including housing, and particularly to do with homelands,” she said.
“The $250m that was identified this week was around the needs of Central Australia.
“But that does not mean of course that other towns will not be considered.”
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