Alice Springs leaders to model Bourke’s justice reinvestment program
Alice Springs leaders will work on diverting justice funds to preventive measures. Here’s how the model has turned the tide on crime interstate.
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One answer to the social issues that have engulfed Alice Springs may just lie across the border.
Leaders from all levels of government desperate to turn the tide on Central Australian crime will travel to Bourke this year.
Council, Territory and federal delegates will head to the far-western NSW town to learn about its Maranguka justice reinvestment model.
The Indigenous-led program, which diverted policing money to early diversion strategies, was found to save $3m in one year, a KMPG report found.
The study pooled the savings based on reducing policing hours and imprisonment expenses among other justice costs.
It also found an encouraging results on reduced offending and domestic violence, as well as an increase in Year 12 attendance.
“These findings indicate impacts approximately five times greater than the operational costs for 2017, excluding in-kind contributions,” the report read.
“Should Bourke sustain just half of the results achieved in 2017, an additional gross impact of $7m over the next five years could be delivered.”
More than 100 Katherine residents have also attended a meeting on the same initiative, which the Albanese government plans to roll out right across the country.
In October, the federal government announced up to 30 community-led justice reinvestment initiatives would be established across the country, with the support of $81.5m.
The announcement is one Labor members are now circling back to in light of national pressure to solve escalating issues of crime and alcoholism in Alice Springs.
Lingiari MP Marion Scrymgour said the model in Alice would be tailored to local needs.
“Our justice reinvestment initiatives will be … developed in partnership with First Nations communities and organisations,” she said.
“If we want to reduce crime and rates of reoffending then we need to break the cycle of disadvantage and invest in our young people.”
Mayor Matt Paterson said local members working on the program were due to meet next week.
“Alice Springs Town Council has always encouraged a whole of community approach to crime prevention and safety,” Mr Paterson said.
“It is incredibly important for all levels of government to be on the same page when it comes to tackling the issues we face in the Red Centre.”
When the representatives will travel to Bourke remains unclear.
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Originally published as Alice Springs leaders to model Bourke’s justice reinvestment program
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