Alcohol Banned in Alice Springs Town Camps

The Territory Opposition has welcomed the Martin Government's belated decision to ban alcohol in Alice Springs' town camps.

"I've been calling for the banning of alcohol in the town camps and the CLP will support to expedition of the necessary legislation through Parliament in August,” says Jodeen Carney, Leader of the Opposition.

"However, for this ban on alcohol in town camps to be effective Alice Springs will need additional police resources.

"I'm calling on the Chief Minister to immediately commit to raising establishment police numbers by 20 for Alice Springs; as I have requested in the past.

"The police already struggle to respond in a timely manner to reports of criminal behaviour throughout Alice.

"That's no reflection on the hard working police officers of Alice Springs – there are just not enough of them to do the job.

"It's also reasonable to assume that the Federal Government's intervention in many of the troubled bush communities will see more people from remote areas moving to Alice Springs.

"The combination of more people and stricter alcohol laws means police resources will be under even greater pressure than is currently the case.

"It's critical that the alcohol bans in Alice Springs are effective and to achieve that additional police will be needed.

"Passing legislation is the easy part of governing – making the necessary resources available to implement the law is the true test of a Government's commitment.

"Is Clare Martin committed to enforcing alcohol bans in Alice Springs?

"If so, on the day the alcohol ban becomes law, there will be 20 additional police officers to enforce the law in Alice Springs.””

2007-07-06