No Extra Police for Alice Springs

The failure of the Territory Government to allocate any of the budget’s 35 extra police to Alice Springs is the latest slap in the face to the people of Alice.

“To only provide extra police for Darwin is a shabby, cynical political act by the Chief Minister,” says Jodeen Carney, Shadow Minister for Justice.

“The sole motivation behind this decision is to shore up electoral support in Darwin ahead of the Territory election.

“The Chief Minister obviously has no intention of ruling on behalf of all Territorians; his sole concern is saving the political skin of ALP members in Darwin.

“The Chief Minister should spend some time in Alice Springs getting a genuine understanding of the situation confronting the town.

“If he could be bothered to spend some time in Alice he’d quickly understand the need for additional police in the town.

“The Chief Minister’s attempt to hide behind the Police Commissioner regarding who is responsible for the decision to deny Alice Springs additional police is pitiful.

“Whatever happened to Ministerial responsibility?

“Only last month the Minister for Central Australia, Rob Knight, expressed the opinion that Alice Springs could use all the additional police.

“Now the Chief Minister has decided Alice won’t get any; it’s disgraceful.”

2008-05-16