Tourists are avoiding Alice Springs because of high crime rate: business owner

AN Alice Springs business owner says family and friends who watched a national TV report on crime in Alice Springs on Monday night won’t be coming to Alice Springs

• ‘Yes, I am worried’: Tourism Minister Natasha Fyles responds to A Current Affairs report on Alice Springs crime
• Spotlight put on Crime in Alice Springs in special A Current Affair report

AN Alice Springs business owner says family and friends who watched a national TV report on crime in Alice Springs on Monday night won’t be coming to Alice Springs.

Wicked Kneads owner Kate Freestone said she received a text from family and friends who watched the program saying they wouldn’t be visiting Alice Springs.

“Word spreads, people do not want to come ... Alice Springs is enter at your own risk, Ms Freestone said.

Wicked Kneads manager Kate Freestone

“This is just how we live, you can’t even open your windows at night.

“It’s pretty shocking when you have customers sitting in your shop and their bags are getting stolen while they’re sitting outside the your store and windows are getting broken into in caravan parks and hotels.”

Ms Freestone said the A Current Affair program gave an “unbiased view of what’s going on in Alice Springs, this is what we face on a day-to-day basis.”

“We’ve been subjected to probably more than a lot of people: 16 break-ins, home invasion, both cars stolen over a three-year period.”

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Ms Freestone said now was a good time to put pressure on the NT government to address the high crime rate and make changes because tourist numbers were down anyway because of COVID-19.

“Tourists aren’t coming anyway due to COVID, due to crime,” she said.

“You’ve only got to look on the grey nomad Facebook pages and they are saying do not stop in Alice Springs.

“I think now is the time to put pressure on the government to step up and make some changes.

Novita Gifts owner Ann Demarco said the program was another nail in the coffin for Alice Springs tourism.

“All the businesses are boarded up and some are closing early. It’s adding to the woefulness,” Ms Demarco said.

“The kids feel like the own the town, there’s no one about and they can do what they want.”

Novita Gifts, Alice Springs

Ms Demarco said while the TV program rang true, it was unfair to just target Alice springs because the crime issue was Territory wide.

“There should be a place where they (the offenders) can be looked after, provided meals and get schooling.

“If they’re caught they need to go somewhere, not jail, and learn more skills and look after animals.”

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