Robyn Lambley laughs off Fyles government terror ban

An Alice Springs politician has overturned a ban from her electorate office in the wake of the crepe attack on Chief Minister Natasha Fyles, an incident she says should be put into context.

One of the Territory’s most experienced politicians has laughed off the terror alert and trespass order issued against the woman who attacked the chief minister at Nightcliff markets last weekend.

Araluen MLA Robyn Lambley said the trespass order against Cullen Bay real estate agent Suzi Milgate, revealed by this masthead this week, was “complete overkill” and she contacted the Legislative Assembly which issued the order to request it be rescinded from her electorate office.

“The attack against the chief minister was despicable and unacceptable, but I felt banning the woman was a step too far, and the Legislative Assembly agreed and took her off the Araluen trespass list,” Mrs Lambley said.

Suzi Milgate at the Milgate Real estate, Cullenbay Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“The attack on the chief minister was horrifying, but there’s a context to this.

“I agree with the NT Police Association that said many of us have been subjected to unacceptable abuse and assaults over the past five years or more.

“Just because we’re politicians, we shouldn’t necesarilly be treated vastly differently to all other Territorians.

“The police association drew attention to one of their officers ending in hospital as a result of an assault and there didn’t seem to be urgency around charging the people involved.

“We don’t need two sets of rules. We’re all Territorians and we should keep this in context.

“If I was going to have trespass orders there’d be 20 people ahead of Mrs Pie Thrower.”

Police operation in Alice Springs in January. Picture: Liam Mendes / The Australian

Ms Lambley said Alice Springs residents had for some time learnt to take measures to protect themselves living inside a “war zone”.

“Most of us in Alice Springs live our lives very differently to how we lived 10 or 20 years ago because of crime.

The moment Ms Milgate allegedly assaulted Ms Fyles.

“If one good thing comes from this the chief minister now has first-hand experience of being physically abused like she was in Alice Springs when she was pursued after a marathon and has now been attacked.

“It will give her an idea of how people in Alice Springs have been feeling for a very long time. She’s finally joined the war zone. This has to be put into perspective.”

Ms Lambley said Alice Springs residents rarely left their homes at night, had to be careful where they park vehicles day and night, avoid public places if there is screaming and shouting and avoid visiting major shopping centres after 5pm.

“Our lives have changed dramatically over the past 10 years because of crime,” she said.

“It will be interesting to hear how Darwin people react to crime. In Alice Springs we’ve been doing it for years.”

Ms Milgate was charged with aggravated assault after allegedly hitting Ms Fyles in the face with a cream crepe.

She is slated to appear in court next month.