NT Government slammed in open letter by Steve Edgington

An 1800-word open letter blasting the government included 37 recommendations in how to reduce crime. Read the takedown.

A senior CLP member has lashed the Northern Territory government in an 1800-word open letter over the ‘level of fear’ in Tennant Creek, amid a flurry of violent incidents.

On Saturday, Member for Barkly Steve Edgington detailed the open letter for Chief Minister Eva Lawler on Facebook in which he slammed the government’s track record on crime.

Mr Edgington said his constituents were sick of the Territory Government’s “dysfunctional approach” to crime.

“The people in Tennant Creek and across the Barkly have had a gutful of crime and your government’s chaotic, negligent and dysfunctional approach to dealing with it,” he said.

“Many residents in Tennant Creek awoke this morning to news of another series of home invasions which included robberies, serious assaults and threats against the occupants.”

Member for Barkly Steve Edgington has called on the NT Government to convene an “urgent meeting” in Tennant Creek to address violence.

Mr Edgington proceeded to list a series of incidents that occurred overnight, which included a 61-year-old wheelchair-bound man allegedly being assaulted by a group who forced their way into his home at 2am Saturday.

Mr Edginton said the group smashed the sliding door and the man had to barricade himself in his bedroom while phoning 000.

In a separate incident, a 48-year-old was hospitalised after he was allegedly assaulted with a star picket in the early hours of the morning by a group of men who were checking the door lock of his home on Leichhardt Street.

Details of neither incident were released by NT Police, however two other home invasions the same morning were reported on.

Those included the assault of a 66-year-old man whose caravan was broken into by five males who then assaulted him with iron bars and robbed him, and the violent invasion of a family’s home in Boag Court.

In that incident, four males including three youths and an adult forced entry to a residence by smashing a window and once inside a male occupant of the house was struck across the shoulder with a broomstick by the adult offender, who then demanded the resident hand over his car keys and wallet.

The three youths then attempted to enter a room where the man’s wife and children were hiding, but they were able to push back and keep the door closed.

The group then ransacked the premises before fleeing and stealing a 2007 Mitsubishi 380 with NT registration 989922.

Mr Edgington said the Chief Minister’s office needed to convene an “urgent meeting” in Tennant Creek to combat the violence.

“The level of fear in Tennant Creek has increased substantially – everyone in the Barkly region has the right to feel safe and expect their homes, businesses and property to be secure,” he said.

“Until there is an appropriate focus, and a full review of government funding and programs designed to intervene and stop crime before it happens, Tennant Creek and the Barkly will continue to face the same issues.”

Mr Edgington listed 37 recommendations in how to tackle crime in the Barkly region “instead of spending millions of dollars on bridges, grandstands, shade structures and carparks in Darwin”.

“How many more residents need to suffer and become victims of crime before you take action,” he said.

Mr Edgington said he would be “happy” to meet Ms Lawler and “novice” Police Minister Brent Potter.

“Chief Minister, I have plenty more ideas and I’m happy to meet with you and your novice Police Minister to run you both through what needs to be done to make the Barkly a safer place for everyone.”

Member for Katherine Jo Hersey told NT News her region was also frustrated by the “hands off” approach to crime.

“Equally residents in Katherine are facing an alarming surge in crime, with a recent series of attempted home invasions, robberies, property damage, and threats during the Christmas break,” she said.

“The community is frustrated at the Territory Labor Government’s ineffective, manic and ‘hands off’ approach to the crime crisis.”

Ms Hersey claimed the government had put the “rights of criminals above the rights of Territorians”.

“It is evident, the crime statistics show a significant increase over the past seven years – Territorians want effective and urgent action,” she said.

“Labor puts the rights of criminals above the rights of Territorians - you can’t trust Labor.

“Only the CLP has a plan to take back control of our streets, rebuild the Territory’s reputation and get our economy moving forward.”

Chief Minister Eva Lawler told NT News she understood the frustrations of Territorians and maintained it was a “goal” of her government to “tackle crime”.

“I understand Territorians frustrations with crime and anti-social behaviour,” she said.

“It is not an issue me or my colleagues are shying away from. Everyone deserves to feel safe at home, at work and in their communities, and that is the goal of our Government.

“The Territory Labor Government has delivered a raft of measures to not only tackle crime as it occurs, but also to address the root social issues to prevent crime in the first place.

Ms Lawler acknowledged “more needs to be done”.

“Most recently the Territory Safety Division was established by NT Police to target anti-social behaviour, bail compliance, support general duties officers and alcohol policing operations,” she said.

“We know more needs to be done and it will be.”

“A review into police resources is currently underway to identify where additional resources need to be targeted for our hard working front line.”

In response to Mr Edgington’s request to engage the community, Ms Lawler said she would “continue to listen” to victims.

“The Police Minister, Police Commissioner and I continue to listen to the voices of victims to determine strategies to address crime that are missing, smarter justice polices that can be implemented with more strict enforced consequences, and experts and evidence utilised to ensure the measures we put in place will be effective and efficient,” she said.