Territorian businessman laments crime in Top End, Red Centre

In 2010, Brad Morgan left Alice Springs for Darwin when he observed a rise in crime. Now, the businessman says there is similar trend of anti-social behaviour across the Top End.

Member for Brennan Marie-Clare Boothby (right) with The Reserve general manager Brad Morgan (left) discussing the impact of anti-social behaviour on NT tourism. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

With his beloved pub falling to crime and struggling to get by, a Territorian businessman who left Alice Springs for greener pastures in Darwin says he is feeling a strong sense of deja vu.

According to Dixon Hospitality Group managing director Brad Morgan, the Reserve pub, just a two minute walk from Parliament House, is averaging one break-in per month.

Mr Morgan said he “picked up his family” and left Alice Springs when he witnessed a similar trend of anti-social behaviour back in 2010.

“You could see it starting to happen in Alice Springs then,” he said.

“And it’s just gradually got worse over that period of time to where we are now.”

MLA Marie-Clare Boothby of the CLP sat down with businessman Brad Morgan to discuss the impact of crime on his livelihood. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

However, the crime that Mr Morgan thought he left behind in the Red Centre is now plaguing his Top End business.

“As of late, I’ve been going to bed at night knowing or feeling that I’m going to get a phone call at 3am or 4am to say there’s been a break-in,” he said.

“There’s the real cost – you get an invoice for your broken glass or some sort repairs.

“But then there’s the stuff that really hurts, such as the emotional trauma of staff, people coming in and stealing food off people’s plates, people jumping over the bar and grabbing alcohol, running in the kitchen to grab knives, it’s become a regular occurrence now.”

Mr Morgan’s negative sentiment is shared by many other small business owners across the Territory.

Data from the March quarter of 2024 shows businesses have dropped in outlook of tourism in the Territory. Source: Tourism NT.

According to Tourism NT’s industry sentiment poll for the March 2024 quarter, a survey of 51 NT businesses showed operators rated their outlook for tourism 72 out of 200 – lower than any poll before or since COVID-19.

Outlook for tourism in Alice Springs was particularly gloomy, with a result of 50 out of 200.

From a business perspective, Mr Morgan said the Territory had lost its attraction.

“I’m looking at the declining population, increasing crime rates, decreasing tourism numbers – if you’re a business owner, those are your (key performance indicators), and they’re your benchmarks.”

His adult sons having moved to Brisbane, Mr Morgan said he expected more young people would also “leave in droves” if nothing changed.

“This sounds a bit hysterical, but unless you’re a Barra fisher or a pig shooter, what is there here for a 19 year-old bloke or girl?”

Ms Boothby says the government is expecting business owners to adjust to crime, rather than pass legislation to address “root causes”. Picture: Floss Adams.

Opposition tourism spokeswoman Marie Clare-Boothby accused the government of expecting business owners to “strengthen windows” rather than passing legislation to “strengthen laws”.

“Every now and then (the government will) tinker with something, but it never goes to the point where they’re addressing root causes to ensure that we can stop the crime and ensure that if people are breaking the law, which we know they are, that there are absolute consequences for those people.”

Tourism and Hospitality Minister Joel Bowden told the NT News he knew that “doing business is tough” in the Territory, but maintained the government was “backing the tourism industry”.

“Through the Visitor Experience Enhancement Program we have provided more than $15 million to support over 400 projects to enhance the visitor experience, our Territory Aviation Attraction Scheme has delivered over 370,000 additional seats into the NT,” he said.

“The $1 million Territory Tourism Discount Scheme offering a 25 per cent discount on tourism products and experiences across the NT delivered $2.9 million in bookings in just two months.”

Tourism and Hospitality Minister Joel Bowden says the government has introduced initiatives to bring “more tourism money” for the Territory. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Mr Bowden said businesses would experience a positive turn from the government’s $68 million commitment to tourism in Budget 2024.

“The Million Dollar Road Trip is already boosting drive market or visitors and more tourism money into the Territory,” he said.

“Darwin’s cruise ship season looks to be the best ever with 103 cruise ships expected to visit Darwin throughout the 2023-24 season contributing a massive $65 million into our economy.”

Despite the multimillion-dollar government commitments, Mr Morgan warned that small businesses would struggle to ride out “generational change”.

“As a small-business owner, we can’t wait a generation,” he said.

“We can’t wait 20 or even 10 years, there needs to be something that gives people a bit of hope that someone’s at least got a plausible solution to this that everyone can work towards.”

Asked if he would consider relocating again, Mr Morgan said he would put his family first.

“As a parent, as a father, business owner, you do what’s best for your family – that’s why I left Alice Springs.”

Originally published as Territorian businessman laments crime in Top End, Red Centre