If criminals can get a cash compensation for Labor’s failed policies, then businesses should be able to do the same – that was the message at last night’s, town meeting in Alice Springs.
Shadow Minister for Youth and Territory Families Joshua Burgoyne said he could understand the frustration of business owners who pour their heart and soul (and life savings) into their community.
“The meeting aimed to gauge the level of support for a class action against the Fyles Labor government,” he said.
“Alice Springs residents have been victims of crime as a result of failed NT Labor Government policies for the past six years.
“If Youth criminals who were in detention centres are able to receive $35 million in damages, surely the people of Alice Spring deserve compensation for failed Government Policies that have led to a near doubling of property crime over six years.”
In December of 2021, the NT Government paid out $35 million to youth detainees in an out-of-court settlement.
Shadow Minister for Health Bill Yan said Chief Minister Natasha Fyles and Attorney-General Chansey Paech had been on the defensive after many in the community criticised the lack of planning after Stronger Futures legislation, which prohibited alcohol in Alice Springs town camps and other communities around the NT, lapsed in July of last year.
“This allowed alcohol into some areas of the community for the first time in more than a decade, leading to increased crime and domestic violence incidents,” Mr Yan said.
“Labor’s own Federal representative Marion Scrymgour has been critical of NT Labor calling on them to ‘step up’ after many in the community called for a return to alcohol bans for some areas.”
In May of 2022, a collective of organisations called on the Labor government to reverse their opt-in policy, including the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance of the NT (AMSANT), North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA), Northern Territory Council of Social Service (NTCOSS), Danila Dilba Health Service (DDHS), Central Australian Aboriginal Congress (CAAC), Alcohol and Association of Alcohol and Other Drug Agencies NT (AADANT), NT Police Association and the People’s Alcohol Action Coalition (PAAC).
“The CLP Opposition also spoke in Parliament about the harm that could be caused by the lapsing of this legislation,” Mr Yan said.
“Unfortunately for the community of Alice Springs, all of this fell on the deaf ears of the Fyles government.”
ENDS