Key points
The Coalition will tackle Youth Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour in Alice Springs by providing more support for the local youth, more support for the Town Council, and more support for the community.
We’re backing locally-led solutions, combined with what we know works.
Crime is increasing in Alice Springs. As at 31 January this year, assaults had risen by almost 6 per cent in the previous 12 months. House break-ins were up more than 46 per cent, and commercial break-ins had skyrocketed by over 60 per cent.
Alice Springs Town Council says antisocial behaviour is at crisis point and has urgently requested help from the federal and Northern Territory Governments.
We are responding with a $14 million plan to reduce youth crime and anti-social behaviour.
A re-elected Coalition Government will:
- Provide additional CCTV capability for Alice Springs ($600,000).
- Fund more local Diversionary Activities ($3.9 million).
- Support more Community Patrols, more often ($4 million).
- Create more regional jobs.
- Work with Town Council to develop more Safe and Secure Places for Young People (up to $2 million).
- Deliver a new Head to Health mental health service ($3.4 million)
Our Plan
1. Supporting safer streets with more CCTV
We know that CCTV can deter crime, as well as gather evidence of criminal activity. It also supports other services to target hotspots for anti-social behaviour.
The Coalition will help keep Alice Springs safe by working with the Town Council to add to their network of CCTV cameras.
A re-elected Coalition Government will provide $600,000 for CCTV, lighting and security to support safety in Alice Springs:
- $470,000 for Alice Springs Town Council in Traeger Park.
- $59,000 for Foodbank Alice Springs Food Hub.
- $50,000 for Alice Springs Steiner School.
2. More support for what works
The Coalition already supports a range of diversionary, youth and support programs in Alice Springs through the Indigenous Advancement Strategy.
We know initiatives that positively influence young people are critical to reducing youth violence and anti-social behaviour.
The Coalition will work with Alice Springs providers on diversionary activities to support at-risk youth and their families on a pathway to education, life skills and employment.
We will provide almost $1.2 million for the Tangentyere Council to deliver the Ngurra Palyapayi - Safety at Home project in partnership with the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Women’s Council, Warlpiri Youth Development Aboriginal Corporation, MacDonnell Regional Council, Central Desert Regional Council, North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency and Barkly Regional Council.
This project will support 50 youth worker cadetships for young Aboriginal people in 26 communities and Town Camps. It will also run diversionary activities in remote communities to keep youth positively engaged.
As well, the Coalition will work with Tangentyere Council on a plan for the full expansion of the Youth Development Model. We will also consider establishing Family Support Camps, recognising that targeted support is needed to strengthen families and manage youth behaviour.
A re-elected Coalition Government will provide $1.3 million to Casse Australia Alice Springs to provide On-Country Cultural Camps and support for up to 160 at-risk youth. A further $1.46 million will go to Choice Australia Management to continue early intervention activities through their Young People At Work - Alice Springs program. This project targets at-risk youth for diversionary camps and nationally-recognised training certifications.
A re-elected Coalition Government will provide:
- $1,176,750 to fund Tangentyere Council to deliver the Ngurra Palyapayi - Safety at Home project.
- $1,300,000 to Casse Australia Alice Springs to provide Youth Camps.
- $1,455,030 to Choice Australia Management to provide youth training and early intervention services.
3. More patrols, more often
The Coalition knows that partnering with communities on localised services is the best way forward.
Community Patrols play a significant role in crime prevention. Sharing knowledge with key stakeholders such as the police and community leaders, they also help identify crime and safety issues and contribute to locally-led solutions.
A re-elected Coalition Government will provide:
- $2 million to the Tangentyere Council to expand its existing Night Patrol service.
- $2 million to the Alice Springs Council for the Traditional Owners Patrol.
4. Supporting jobs and training for young people
A re-elected Coalition Government will establish ReBoot, which will build life and employment skills for disadvantaged young Australians.
This new pre-employment program for people aged 15-24 will help disadvantaged youth to connect with and benefit from existing youth employment programs, ensuring they are part of the economic recovery.
We will also invest in the Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarship Scheme for up to 300 training places for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in caring professions.
And we’re providing $636.4 million to expand the Indigenous Rangers Program, which will fund more than 1,000 additional ranger jobs in regional and remote Australia.
Through the Coalition Government’s $2 billion Regional Accelerator Program, we will continue to help build a skilled workforce in regional areas.
A re-elected Coalition Government will:
- Provide a boost to regional apprentices, with an additional 5 per cent wage subsidy in their first year. This will be on top of the 10 per cent support provided through the Australian Apprenticeships Incentive System.
- Provide $22.6 million for more than 29,000 additional in-training support places, to ensure regional apprentices have the support they need.
5. Helping young people reach their potential
The Coalition is supporting young people to access services and activities that help them reach their potential.
The area will provide a safe space for young people to get together and engage in empowerment programs from educational activities.
As part of the Alice Springs Council plans to regenerate the area, a re-elected Coalition Government will:
- work with Alice Springs Town Council and invest $2 million in a new youth-focussed area for the public library.
6. Deliver a Head to Health mental health service
Residents of Alice Springs and surrounds will have easier access to mental health services with a new Head to Health adult mental health service in the area through a $3.4 million investment over 4 years.
Head to Health satellite services, like the one being established here in Alice Springs, are designed to provide a welcoming, stigma-free entry point for adults to access mental health information, services and support.
The Alice Springs Head to Health satellite service is part of a network of community-based mental health services being established across Australia as part of the Government’s $3 billion National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan to lead landmark reform of the mental health system.
This will provide continuity of care for the youth of Alice Springs who have been using our headspace service and now need to move to adult health resources.
Alice Springs Head to Health satellite service will be commissioned by the local Primary Health Network (PHN) which will receive a total of $3.4 million over four years to establish and operate the centre. The PHN will consult with the community to determine the exact location and ensure that the centre provides services in a way that meets the needs of the local community.
The satellite will be integrated within the primary care setting to offer support to adults with moderate to severe levels of mental illness over the short to medium term.
A re-elected Coalition Government will:
- Establish a $3.4 million Head to Health adult mental health service in Alice Springs
Our Record
The Safer Communities Fund grant program has provided almost $900,000 to Alice Springs organisations, helping to reduce crime, violence and anti-social behaviour.
This includes funding specifically aimed at organisations working with youth at high risk of becoming engaged in the criminal justice system.
Since 2016, the Government has invested over $315 million in the Safer Communities Fund.Over $7 million has gone into initiatives in the NT, including our dedicated Northern Territory Infrastructure Grants of $4 million announced by the Prime Minister in the 2019 election campaign.
The 2022-23 Budget commits $173.2 million under the National Partnership on Northern Territory Remote Aboriginal Investment to extend critical community support services toregions like Alice Springs.
The Coalition is supporting the Northern Territory to reach new milestones on production and growth, with a $2.6 billion investment in transformative infrastructure projects through the Energy Security and Regional Development Plan.
This includes $440 million to build new logistics and agribusiness hubs in Alice Springs, Katherine and Tennant Creek that will unlock next-generation economic and export opportunities.
The $160 million Alice Springs hub will boost local jobs and strengthen supply chains.
The Commonwealth will also invest $361 million in transport infrastructure projects in the Territory. We’re supporting efficient and reliable road connections for Alice Springs, including $132 million for the Central Australian Tourism Roads.
The Government recently announced an additional $678 million to seal the remaining unsealed and substandard sections of the Outback Way, improving connectivity to Alice Springs.
Since 2013, the Coalition has invested more than $3.7 billion across 66 road and rail infrastructure projects in the NT. Those currently underway are supporting around 1,500 jobs over the life of the projects.
In the 2021-22 financial year $25 million of the Indigenous Advancement Strategy funding was used to fund Community Night Patrol providers across all of the NT.
The Head to Health satellite service is part of a network of community-based mental health services being established across Australia as part of the Government’s $3 billion National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan to lead landmark reform of the mental health system.
The Morrison Government continues to make mental health a national priority, investing a record $3 billion in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 Budgets for the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan to lead landmark reform of the mental health system.
This brings the Health portfolio expenditure in mental health and suicide prevention services and supports in 2022–23 to a record high of $6.8 billion.
The Risk of Labor
Labor has no plan to help the Alice Springs community address increasing crime rates.
Crime has increased dramatically in Alice Springs over the past year. As at 31 January, assaults were up 5.78 per cent, house break-ins 46.43 per cent, and commercial break-ins 60.23 per cent.
Labor cannot be trusted to keep Alice Springs families and businesses safe.
Labor has always been weak on protecting Australians.
Labor can't say how they’ll pay for their promises and they can't manage money. That means they can’t pay to keep the essential services going.
In uncertain times, Australia can’t risk Labor.
Cost
Funding for the Coalition's plan for addressing youth crime and anti-social behaviour in Alice Springs is already provided within budget estimates.