Peter Dutton calls on Anthony Albanese to support crime measures requested by NT government

Major changes to Centrelink access recommended by the Territory government will be at the forefront of the Coalition’s policy for cutting crime in Alice Springs.

Peter Dutton with NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro in Alice Springs on Wednesday. Picture: Gera Kazakov

Peter Dutton has declared “enough is enough” in Alice Springs, pledging to bring anti-social behaviour to an end and law and order back to the Northern Territory.

In Alice Springs on Wednesday, the Leader of the Opposition pledged his support, in principle, to seven “critical” measures the Finocchiaro Territory government put to the Albanese government requiring federal intervention to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.

He said he would support Centrelink payments being moved to takeaway alcohol-free days. He also said a future Dutton government would make payments contingent on reporting fortnightly to work and training programs.

The measures also included a federal audit of Indigenous support programs, a move that would sit snugly between both of Indigenous Australians spokesperson Jacinta Nampijinpa Price’s expected portfolios, having recently been given carriage of government efficiency in the opposition.

“We have been taking an interest in trying to support the people of Alice Springs for a long time. In the previous Labor government, here in the Territory, there was no will to listen to the people of Alice Springs,” Mr Dutton said.

“I’m very pleased to have worked with the Chief Minister to go through the seven-point plan and on behalf of the Coalition, we have said we will commit in principle to those issues, and to those points, because it will lead to a reduction in crime.

“It will lead to a safer environment here in Alice Springs and for those reasons I am very happy to work hand in glove with the government and to make sure we can provide the police with every resource and provide them with every support we can so that people can live a happy life and live a life free of crime.”

In a statement outlining his policy, Mr Dutton called on Anthony Albanese to bridge the political divide and provide bipartisan support to the measures. “We know the government will run a scare campaign on these initiatives, but the Coalition is demonstrating that we are focused on working with the Northern Territory government on practical actions to improve the lives of Indigenous Australians and improve the community safety crisis that many communities are currently experiencing,” the statement reads.

“These are important policy announcements that will improve the lives of Territorians and keep the community safe. We call on the Albanese government to adopt them, in a spirit of bipartisanship.

“Where the Prime Minister has ignored the needs of Alice Springs and the Northern Territory, the Coalition will stand up for Alice Springs and the Northern Territory.”