PM says Dutton has ‘facts wrong’ on Alice Springs stay as Opposition leader leaves town
After spending a night in Alice Springs, the Opposition has attacked the PM or not spending more time in the town – but the PM says Dutton’s got his ‘his facts wrong’ ‘as usual’. Read the latest.
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Update, January 30: The Federal Opposition leader says he can’t understand how Prime Minister Anthony Albanese “hasn’t been able to spend more time in Alice Springs” despite only spending a night in the town himself.
Mr Dutton made the comments at a press conference in Alice Springs on Thursday morning, before flying out of town.
He questioned how many times Mr Albanese stayed overnight in Alice Springs, telling media “I just don’t think (Mr Albanese) has (stayed overnight in Alice Springs)” – which the Prime Minister has since hit back at.
“I’m happy to be corrected,” Mr Dutton said.
“I don’t understand why the Prime Minister hasn’t been able to spend more time in Alice Springs.
“I just don’t think he’s got the strength and leadership to respond with the decisions that need to be made.”
When Mr Albanese last visited Alice Springs in April 2024, when he announced another $14.2 million for the town, on top of the $250m Central Australia lifeline committed in 2023.
Mr Albanese was last in NT in January, when he flew into Lake Nash station as part of a broader cross-country election campaign trail.
Two weeks before, he had visited Darwin for the 50th anniversary of Cyclone Tracy.
Mr Albanese said he has made 12 visits to the NT since he was elected to the top job – “including overnighting in Alice Springs”.
“As usual Peter Dutton has his facts wrong,” Mr Albanese said.
On Thursday, Mr Dutton’s spruiked Liberal Lingiari candidate Lisa Siebert, but made no specific announcements for Alice Springs or the Territory.
One day earlier, he indicated his support “in principle” for the Territory CLP government’s seven reforms proposed to the federal government.
Mr Dutton has proposed seven nuclear sites throughout the country – ranging from the west, south and east coast – and did not mention if a nuclear power could come to the NT.
However, despite the closest potential nuclear plant being located in Port Augusta in South Australia or Callide in Queensland, Mr Dutton said the nuclear sites would “take the pressure out of the national system”, when responding to how the proposed nuclear plants will benefit Territorians.
“Specifically, when we look at the needs across the energy network, I want to make sure we have a stable baseload power,” he said.
Mr Dutton believed improving new gas projects would “transform” the Territory’s economy, leading an elected coalition government to be able to “provide cheaper electricity or gas in the system”.
Mr Dutton visited the Ross Engineering and Hardy Fence factory in Alice Springs with Shadow Indigenous Australians Minister Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, SA Senator Kerrynne Liddle, and Ms Siebert.
Ross Engineering and Hardy Fence owner Sydney Maloney said they’d just moved into premises on Monday before Mr Dutton and his cohort visited.
Mr Maloney called Mr Dutton a “fair dinkum bloke” and said “it would be handy” if Mr Dutton could lower electricity prices in Territory.
The move could take some strain off his business, Mr Maloney said.
Dutton offers NTG ‘hand in glove’ support in reducing crime in the Territory
Update, January 29, 5pm: The federal opposition leader says he will work “hand in glove” to support the Territory government’s seven requests to the federal government – if elected in the next federal election.
Talking from GGS Glass in Alice Springs after touring the factory, Liberal Party and federal opposition leader Peter Dutton threw his support behind the Finocchiaro government’s seven “key priorities”.
So far, one of the seven requests have been fulfilled by the federal government, after restrictions around drone use in Alice Springs were loosened in Mid-December 2024 for police.
However, Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro also wanted to ensure royalty payments were made in communities and not Alice Springs; the reintroduction of compulsory work for training programs with fortnightly reporting requirements; a performance audit be conducted of federally funded programs; additional income management implemented for parents of youth offenders who received Centrelink income support; and for the Federal Government to accept an NT Government referral of additional income management for parents who neglected their kids.
Mr Dutton said a coalition government would “commit in principle to those issues” because it would “lead to a reduction in crime and it will lead to a safer environment here in Alice Springs”.
“We can provide the police with every resource and follow them with every support we can so that people can live a happy life and live a life free of crime,” he said.
“When people go into their homes, I want them to do so safely and when they turn up to their businesses in the morning, I don’t want there to have been damage to the front window or damage to property that they own.”
The requests were made in the wake of a horrific attack on a two month old baby in Alice Springs in December last year, which required the newborn – and her mother – to be flown to Adelaide for treatment.
Two youths, aged 16 and 17, were accused of the attack and are currently remanded in custody, awaiting their court appearance in February.
Ms Finocchiaro said the Territory government would continue to work “in good faith” with the current Albanese government to have the other outstanding six requests completed.
“I wrote to the federal opposition leader with our plea for seven very simple but effective tools that are going to help reduce crime and tackle the root causes of crime longer term for this town,” she said,
“I’m very thrilled that a future Dutton Coalition government will support in principle all seven of our recommendations to the federal government to help the Northern Territory government restore community safety and reduce crime here in Alice Springs.”
Peter Dutton to speak with Territory bigwigs in Alice Springs visit
Initial, January 29, 11am: The Federal Opposition leader is in the Northern Territory as part of a Red Centre tour.
Liberal Party leader Peter Dutton will speak in Alice Springs for a press conference.
Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro are also set to join Mr Dutton in speaking to media.
The Red Centre capital’s reputation has been dragged through the mud for months due to crime spikes and alleged assaults including the bashing of a mother and baby in a Larapinta home invasion in mid December 2024.
Mr Dutton was in Perth on Tuesday, meeting with liberal candidates on the eastern fringes of the city.
More to come.
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