Tennant Creek business owner Jared Baldwin hits out at crime in NT

A prominent Tennant Creek business leader, whose operations have been targeted 350 times in 30 months, is demanding action on crime as he reveals the drastic steps he’s had to take.

A prominent figure from a top Territory town says businesses and homes linked to his family have been broken into or robbed at least 350 times since April 2020.

Tennant Creek-based businessman and community figure Jared Baldwin this week posted an impassioned plea on social media highlighting issues of crime in the town and pleading for a meaningful response.

And he said the cost of these crimes would be hundreds-of-thousands of dollars because the frequency meant it was not worth claiming on insurance.

Mr Baldwin and his family have lived in the Territory for generations and Tennant Creek for more than a decade.

He says he has never seen lawlessness in the town at worse levels.

His family businesses employ more than 50 people across the Territory.

Tennant Creek. Picture: Jason Walls

He said he would continue investing in Tennant Creek but admitted challenges getting people to Territory regional centres meant he was now basing staff – who once would have normally moved to the town – out of Darwin.

Mr Baldwin operates Remote Concrete out of Tennant Creek, Darwin and Gove and his family runs the Outback Caravan Park and own other commercial and residential property.

Remote Concrete used to employ eight administrative staff in Tennant Creek – and now it’s only three.

The latest break-in at a residential property leased to an employee proved a turning point for Mr Baldwin, who took to social media to share his concern and frustration.

“Another break-in to one of our units with items being stolen, coppers powerless,” he wrote on Monday.

“Tennant Creek and the Northern Territory is bleeding, who will take some charge?

“This is the 350th break in my family alone has experience(d) in 30 months, give or take.

“An attitude like mine and a passion for this place is showing its first crack in my armour.”

Managing director Jared Baldwin with brother in law and general manager Sam Hillier

Mr Baldwin called for an end to division by Territory political leaders.

“With the amount of plans, promises and committees the Territory is lacking real strong and grassroots understanding of problems and leadership battles, with all our so-called leaders committing to the Territory part time, or not able to clean up their act while they’re in office, or surviving with the only skill they know, division.”

Mr Baldwin also lamented the loss of government and private services in the town with DIPL civil section down to a single staff member, the MVR mostly closed and Westpac Bank closed.

“I won’t stop fighting for this place or investing in it, I just hope we band together more, be a community more and watch out for each other,” he said.

Remote Concrete managing director Jared Baldwin and the NGP pipeline construction crew

Barkly MLA Steve Edgington said a consequence of the crime in and around Tennant Creek meant people felt “unsafe”.

“The reputation of Central Australia is under threat at the moment and people just don’t want to live in places where they feel unsafe,” he said.

Police Minister Kate Worden said issues around crime were complex and defended the government’s response to combating crime.

“All Territorians deserve to be safe in their community and we are tackling crime and anti-social behaviour head on,” she said.

“These are extremely complex situations that need both immediate short term actions, and long term actions to break the cycle for future generations.

“That’s why we are investing heavily in more police with more resources, stronger alcohol reforms and rehabilitation programs, and better housing across the Barkly.

“Local service providers also work with local Police, Territory Families and non-government agencies, such as the Julalikari Council to continue to improve services for youth.”

NT Police has been contacted for a response.

Originally published as Tennant Creek business owner Jared Baldwin hits out at crime in NT