Malarndirri McCarthy, Linda Burney urge Peter Dutton to stop using Alice Springs for political gain

Indigenous government ministers have warned the Opposition Leader against using Alice Springs for political gain.

Northern Territory senator Malarndirri McCarthy has called on Peter Dutton to stop using Alice Springs as a “political football” during the Voice campaign.

For months Alice Springs has been in the headlines after a crime wave swept through the town following the lapse of alcohol restrictions. Restrictions have since been reimposed, but some locals are concerned the crime has persisted.

Mr Dutton, in Alice Springs on Thursday, said the Voice to Parliament would do little to address the issues many Indigenous communities like Alice Springs were facing – including child sexual abuse.

But Senator McCarthy said the Opposition Leader needed to be careful with making “irresponsible accusations” if they can’t be followed up.

“It is a very serious allegation to raise the abuse of a child, and a serious allegation to make that a child is being returned to an abuser,” the Assistant Indigenous Australians Minister said from Darwin.

“Peter Dutton, if you are aware of this, then you need to (mandatorily) report it to police so that there can be an investigation immediately, and if you have not done that, I would urge you to do so as soon as possible.”

Linda Burney and Malarndirri McCarthy cautioned Peter Dutton against using Alice Springs as a ‘political football’. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney backed in Senator McCarthy, warning of the implications of politicising the issues in Alice Springs.

“The statistics are heading in the right direction in Alice Springs. There has been a reduction in presentations to the emergency ward, and substantial reductions in call-outs for domestic violence,” she said.

“Dramatic changes which have not been reflected, unfortunately, by the use of Alice Springs as a political football that we are seeing right now.”

Mr Dutton says the Voice will do little to solve the issues on the ground in places like Alice Springs. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Mr Dutton, campaigning against the Voice with CLP senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, earlier hit out at Ms Burney and said the town would be overlooked by the Voice.

“You have kids here tonight who are going to be sexually abused, or families where domestic violence has now become an occurrence all the time and we are told nothing can be done about it. I find it deplorable,” Mr Dutton said.

Senator Price said added layers of bureaucracy – which “no” campaigners claim the Voice will amount to – will not solve the issue.

The former deputy mayor of Alice Springs said she instead wanted to see more police officers on the ground.

“Community members are just crying out for support,” she said.

Mr Dutton also called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to intervene in Alice Springs to tackle the town’s crime rate.