Budget Offers No Solutions For Alice Springs

The Territory Opposition is deeply disappointed that the Martin Government's budget contains no special funding for the law and order problems plaguing Alice Springs.

"The Chief Minister made all the right noises when she was in Alice Springs a fortnight ago but hasn't matched her words with action,” says Jodeen Carney, Leader of the Opposition.

"At the very least, the budget should have contained funding for the establishment level of police to be revised upwards, the return of a mounted police presence in Alice and real time monitoring of CCTV in Todd Mall.

"The installation of CCTV in the Mall is a welcome step, but real time monitoring is the key to getting full value from the investment.

"Real time monitoring enables a rapid police response to threatening situations.

"It's difficult to overestimate the value of a violent situation being quickly assessed and an appropriate police response organised.

"Equally, there's general support for more police on the beat and the return of mounted police as a means of curbing lawlessness in Alice.

"The visibility of a mounted patrol would bring a greater sense of security to the streets of Alice.

"At the end of the Alice Sitting the Minister for Police, Chris Burns, indicated he supported the re-introduction of mounted police to Alice, but failed to put a date on their likely return.

"The budget was a perfect opportunity for the Government to announce funding for the mounted police but the Government has remained silent on the issue.

'I hope the Government is holding back an announcement of funding for real time monitoring of the CCTV and mounted police for another day.

"Failure to provide adequate police protection for the people of Alice Springs will only further enrage the locals.”

2007-05-01