Leader of the Opposition, Lia Finocchiaro, says the Chief Minister’s ongoing inaction on urgent law and order reform has seen crime in Central Australia skyrocket to devastating highs under the Gunner Labor Government.
“An analysis of crime data for Alice Springs, year on year, comparing 2015 to 2021 shows:
- House break-ins have increased by 105%;
- Commercial break-ins have increased by 99%;
- Property crime has increased by 62%; and
- Offences against the person have increased by13%
“The most recent NT crime statistics show year on year to December 2021:
- House break-ins are up by 41%
- Commercial break-ins are up by 82%
- Motor vehicle theft are up by 15%
- Property damage is up by 22%
“A government’s number one job is to keep its people safe and NT Labor has now had almost six years to address the escalating crime in Central Australia. NT Labor is so offender-focused, Territorians are being victimised at astonishing rates because of poor policy,” said Mrs Finocchiaro.
Shadow Minister for Territory Families, Joshua Burgoyne, says Central Australia feels abandoned by the Gunner Labor Government.
“According to the latest NT crime stats, Alice Springs residents are five times more likely to be a victim of a house or commercial break-in, compared with Darwin.
“You’re three times more likely to be a victim of domestic violence in Alice Springs than you are in Darwin, and you’re twice as likely to be a victim of assault, alcohol-related attacks and sexual assault,” said Mr Burgoyne.
Shadow Minister for Health, Bill Yan, says the CLP’s introduction of amendments to the bail laws, last March, were a first step in important reform to put the focus on victims, not offenders.
“That was rejected by Labor, which brought in watered down amendments that have had little impact. In fact, we’d say the youth crime situation is much worse. It’s not good enough and Territorians deserve better from this Darwin-centric Gunner Labor Government.
“A CLP Government will stop the revolving door of bail by setting a presumption against bail for repeat adult and youth offenders, and reinstating breach of bail conditions as an offence for youths. This will have an immediate impact. “Youth Justice should be returned to Corrections, so that that Territory Families can focus on its core function – the care and protection of children. A CLP Government would scrap the minimum floor price and launch an immediate review of the Banned Drinker Register,” said Mr Yan.
ENDS