Linda Burney says Indigenous voice would have prevented Alice Springs crisis

Minister for Indigenous Australians, Linda Burney, in Alice Springs, Northern Territory on Wednesday. Burney said she had been arguing for months for renewed restrictions on alcohol sales in Alice Springs and believes an Indigenous voice to parliament would have prevented the problem escalating. Photograph: Blake Sharp-Wiggins/The Guardian

The minister for Indigenous Australians, Linda Burney, says the Northern Territory government responded too slowly to the spike in crime in Alice Springs, and she’s argued a voice to parliament would have prevented a problem escalating to a crisis.

Burney’s comments follow the announcement on Tuesday of new alcohol restrictions accompanied by more than $50m worth of community support to restore order and safety in Alice Springs. Dorelle Anderson has also been appointed as a central Australian regional controller, and will report on next steps to the prime minister and the NT chief minister, Natasha Fyles, on 1 February.