The Northern Territory Attorney-General claims he's working to address the Alice Springs crime crisis, as residents say they are "too frightened to sleep at night".
The town's mayor Matt Paterson has this week called for the army or federal police to be deployed to the outback town, amid escalating and increasingly violent crime.
Cr Paterson is today meeting with federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, where he plans to request a boost to police resources in Alice Springs.
He claimed an intensive police operation launched in November, which resulted in more than 300 arrests, was not sufficiently tackling the town's crime.
The mayor has urged the federal government to step in, amid sustained claims the NT government has "lost control" of the streets of Alice Springs.
But in a passionate social media post overnight, NT Attorney-General Chansey Paech said his government was listening.
"And I agree — more needs to be done," he said.
Shatter-proof glass and bollards among ideas
Mr Paech said the government was discussing a range of "realistic ideas and solutions" with the community to "reclaim the CBD at night".
These included the introduction of shatter-proof glass throughout the CBD, and automatic bollards that would operate on certain streets at selected times.
"This will restrict access to motor vehicles in certain areas of the CBD at night, creating safer pedestrian access," he said.
Mr Paech said additional alcohol reforms, including risk-based licensing and secondary supply, as well as modernising trespass legislation, would be top priorities.
He added there were discussions around partnering with Member for Lingiari Marion Scrymgour to establish a Central Australian justice reinvestment initiative.
The model, trialled in the tiny NSW town of Bourke, aims to divert money from the prison system to community-led programs that address the underlying causes of crime.
'It's out of control'
Alice Springs town councillor and senior Alyawerre man Michael Liddle said he had never seen crime at these levels — but claimed there was no "quick fix".
He said increased alcohol abuse and a lack of good leadership among Aboriginal men were key issues.
"Ninety-nine per cent of the men I deal with are in this situation because of alcohol," he said.
"When you've got all these social issues, it's much easier to become blind drunk than to be a good person and a good parent."
Central Australia's peak tourism body has also joined calls for action, amid concerns crime is causing residents to flee, and deterring visitors.
"When COVID happened, the government stepped up to secure and protect the most vulnerable," Tourism Central Australia chair Patrick Bedford said.
"Guess what? We're most vulnerable. Now the people, the residents, our quality of life, our businesses are all under duress."
Mr Paterson said crime had only intensified since he first called for federal government aid in November last year, after the CBD was shut down twice in the space of two weeks due to dangerous crime.
"I thought it cannot get any worse than this. And it has gotten so much worse," he said.
"This is out of control."
