‘Doesn’t Alice count?’ Price asks Albanese

By PETER ROWE

Shadow Indigenous Australians Minister Jacinta Price has blasted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for running away from key issues in the Northern Territory, particularly in Alice Springs.

“He is absolutely taking the easy path, he always has,” Ms Price told Sky News.

“He always does when he comes to the Northern Territory.”

Ms Price said residents in Alice and Katherine and Tennant Creek were disappointed they didn’t get the chance to voice their concerns.

“There are residents here in Alice Springs, there are residents in Katherine and in other parts of the territory that would love to have the opportunity to speak directly to the Prime Minister about the critical issues that we are confronted with,” Ms Price said.

The prime minister visited a cattle station in whistle-stop trip before jetting off to WA as he seeks to prop up support ahead of the upcoming Federal election.

Ms Price told Sky News it was time there was an inquiry into land councils to question where royalty payments were being used.

She also called for a reform to welfare payment days to coincide with days when alcohol bans are in place.

“Then monies have a greater chance of being spent on food and clothing,” she said.

Mr Albanese defended his timetable, pointing to a number of stops including Kununurra in Western Australia and Cairns in Queensland as well as his visit to the cattle farm in the NT.

“I have been to the NT 12 times as Prime Minister. That is more times than the three previous prime ministers went during what was almost a decade,” Mr Albanese said.