Violence in Alice not a partisan issue: Price

By PETER ROWE

Opposition Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Nampijinpa Price, has called for the Federal government to work with all sides of politics in the wake of a spike in violent crime in Alice Springs.

Her call comes after an assault of a two-month old baby who suffered a fractured skull, a 29-year old woman raped while she slept in her home.

Senator Price praised the actions of the Northern Territory Government and said she was pleased to see increased police resources, including estranged patrols in the town.

“The new Northern Territory government has shown the kind of leadership that is required to deal with the spiralling crime problem they inherited from years of Labor rule,” Senator Price said.

The Senator also noted recent figures released by the NIAA showing that the Labor government had now spent close to $350 million in an attempt to address the issues in Central Australia.

“When $350 million isn’t enough to improve the situation, and you have people feeling more fearful than ever in their own homes, the government must realise that money is not the solution to the crisis in Central Australia,” Senator Price said.

“This is not a partisan issue – it is fast becoming an issue of life and death. The government must put aside its partisan ideologies and work collaboratively with the Northern Territory government to approve these requests.”

Senator Price said the Northern Territory government’s request for a performance audit of federally funded programs in Central Australia was crucial.

“I have long called for an audit of the government’s reckless spending including the funding of Aboriginal organisations that may not be producing outcomes.”

“The government has opposed my attempts time after time, but this crisis demands that they stop playing political games and start doing what is in the best interests of us here in Central Australia.”

Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy told ibnews.com.au that the chief Minister had promised she would reduce crime.

“The community expects her to deliver on that commitment,” Senator McCarthy said.

“The federal government has made available significant resources for Central Australia – including funding for extra police officers and Aboriginal Liaison Officers, domestic violence services, housing, jobs and education.

“We need the NT Government to be a reliable partner in delivery of these programs.

“Every dollar should be invested in programs that work – whether the funding is from the Commonwealth or the NT Government.”