Alice Springs is in the middle of a youth crisis with an increasing number of young people on the streets engaging in anti-social behaviour, especially at night, which unfortunately leads to instances of crime. The Gunner Government needs to do its job and address these issues, not just in Alice Springs but in other problem areas across the Territory, Shadow Minister for Youth Joshua Burgoyne said today.
“My message to the Chief Minister is that the election is now over, you need to do your job and fix these ongoing youth and crime issues by enacting solutions,” Mr Burgoyne said.
“Prior to the election, the Gunner Government said it would address youth offending by establishing a community work program to see offenders cleaning graffiti, clearing weeds and landscaping. When will this program be implemented?
“The current services are insufficient to deal with the increasing number of youths on the street in Alice Springs,” Mr Burgoyne said.
Currently, one bus services Alice Springs four nights a week while two other bus services run three nights a week.
“It simply isn’t enough to deal with the large numbers of youth we are seeing on the streets.
“The cost of inaction to the community is far too high and something needs to be done before someone is seriously hurt or worse.
“Alice Springs has been forgotten by the Gunner Government. But, this is an opportunity for Labor to show the people of Alice Springs they can still care by investing in adequate services to deal with the youth problems their polices have created,” Mr Burgoyne concluded.