NT government, CLP responds to Alice Springs stabbing death

The government say it is ‘responding in a number of ways’ following the third stabbing death in the NT this year. Read how leaders in the community have reacted.

The brutal daylight stabbing death of a man on an Alice Springs street has “frustrated” the Territory’s leader and her government which was “responding in a number of ways”.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles described the incident which unfolded just hours after a child died in a house fire across town as “tragic”.

“It’s not good enough,” she said.

“We are frustrated as a government but we will not stop putting in place measures and working to stop this kind of behaviour and crime in the community.

Ms Fyles said she had to be careful about the comments on the situation given it was under investigation but said the government were “responding in a number of ways”.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said the government are working on knife crime action following the third stabbing death this year. Picture: Annabel Bowles

“We’ve got the bail review act, we made urgent changes in March and there’s still more work underway in that space,” she said.

“We’re looking at a knife crime strategy or the work’s under way to develop one — that has been a tool that you’ve seen around Australia in the world that not just has a police response but also other public health and education responses to it.

“We have sent to police across to Queensland, some weeks back, looking at what Queensland has done in those precincts and we’re working through how that would be implemented in the Northern Territory context.”

Deputy opposition leader Gerald Maley said enough was enough following the most recent Territory death due to violent crime.

“Enough is enough, Territorians have had enough; this is the fourth death in the past month or so,” Mr Maley said.

“Something has to change, Territorians are sick of living in fear and Natasha Fyles needs to tell Territorians what she’s going to do about crime and about making the Territory a safe place.”

He said the CLP had put forward plenty of solutions in parliament, but had repeatedly been shot down.

Deputy Opposition leader Gerard Maley wants to see an inquiry into NT Police. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

“The CLP have asked seven times in parliament about an independent inquiry into resourcing police which has been knocked back each time,” Mr Maley said.

“Police surveys say they don’t they don’t have enough resources and 97 per cent who don’t feel supported by the government.”

Mr Maley claimed no youth had been diverted to the Seven Emu Station work camp for juveniles.

However, a spokesman for Youth Minister Kate Worden said since the program started in July 2020, there had been 52 camp participants, 11 of who attended a Long camp, and 41 who attended a Short camp.

The spokesman said from July 1, 2022 to March 31 this year, 13 people had attended Seven Emu Station, of which six were from Tennant Creek, five from Borroloola and two from Katherine.

“All young people have attended in a voluntary capacity, not through formal diversion or under a court order,” the spokesman said.

Alice Springs mayor Matt Paterson said it had been a “tragic” 24 hours for the town following the death of a young child after a house fire earlier on Thursday.

“Things were starting to get better, and obviously with this, I don’t think there’s another word apart from tragic to describe what’s happened in those two separates instances,” he said.

“The fire is incredibly sad, a young child has lost their life, and then this separate incident, which is still being investigated.

Alice Springs Mayor Matt Paterson said the community is reeling after two deaths in less than 24 hours. Picture: Kevin Farmer

“It’s hard to understand what’s going to happen next in Alice Springs.”

He said his thoughts were with the families and first responders involved in the incidents.

“My heart goes out to the families affected and breaks for them, and also the first responders that had to attend both incidents,” he said.

“It’s a difficult time for Alice Springs.”

Both the government and opposition condemned the assault on the paramedic that occurred while they were responding to the stabbing.

“A paramedic is coming in to help save someone’s life and for them to be attacked is disgusting,” she said.

“I’ve been in touch with the union that represents our paramedics — they’re incredibly hard working.

“We all have a responsibility as Territorians when they tried to save someone’s life and render assistance that we give them the space to do so.”

Bill Yan said attacks on first responders were not on. Picture: Che Chorley

Mr Yan likened the crime crisis to a conflict zone after an emergency responder was assaulted.

“I spoke to police, they’re absolutely horrified and very upset about what has taken place,” Mr Yan said.

“During the response to the stabbing one of the ambos was also assaulted, you expect first responders to be in harm’s way in a conflict zone, but not in a rural community or town.

“Legislation needs to be enacted straight away to try and reduce the level of knife crime.

“It’s become all too prevalent now for everybody to carry a knife to protect themselves because the violence is just escalating right across the Territory.

“We’ve put forward numerous chances to legislation to try and reduce the levels of crime, we’ve put forward changes to bail laws to get some of those violent offenders off the streets.”