New drone exemptions to provide aerial support for Alice Springs, assist in crime crackdown

With a community becoming more vocal about its concerns, the federal government has taken a step forward in assisting the people of Alice Springs.

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro on the streets of Alice Springs.

Alice Springs Police Drone Pilots will be able to significantly enhance their operational capabilities following an exemption from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).

The change comes one week after Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro and NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy visited Alice Springs in the wake of an alleged home invasion that left a baby girl with a fractured skull.

The exemption will allow police to cover the entirety of Alice Springs, providing aerial support and backup to officers on the ground, while tracking offenders and conducting proactive patrols.

Drone pilots in Alice Springs will be given further exemptions to fly in the area.

On December 13, Mrs Finocchiaro wrote to Senator Malarndirri McCarthy and Member for Lingiari Marion Scrymgour outlining seven key priority reforms for the federal government – one being that CASA provided the exemption.

“Reducing crime and improving community safety is our government’s top priority,” she said.

“I thank the federal government for recognising the vital role these tools play and for supporting police efforts to make Alice Springs a safer place.”

Her other requests included:

• Centrelink payments to be made on current takeaway alcohol-free days only
• Reintroduce compulsory work or training programs with fortnightly reporting obligations for Centrelink recipients
• Conduct a performance audit of federally-funded programs
• Ensure royalty distributions are made in communities, not in Alice Springs
• Implement 100 per cent income management for parents of youth offenders
• Accept the Northern Territory Government’s referral to the Federal Government for parents who neglect their children, enabling additional income management

Ms Finocchiaro said she was looking forward to working with the federal government to deliver a safer Alice Springs.