April 30th 2024.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recently made a visit to Alice Springs, his first since the youth curfew was lifted two weeks ago. During his trip, he announced a generous $8 million in funding for Northern Territory Public schools. Among the locals he met with was Darren Clark, an advocate for the community and creator of the popular social media page "Action for Alice."
In an interview with Ben Fordham from 2GB, Clark explained that he expressed his concerns to the Prime Minister, stating, "I'm not political, I just want my town back." He emphasized the importance of safety for the people and the need to protect the youth. Clark also shared with Albanese the harsh reality of the past five years in Alice Springs, where violence and crime have taken over the streets. He painted a grim picture, describing incidents where people had machetes held to their throats while they slept.
According to Clark, the Prime Minister was not fully aware of how dire the situation had become in Alice Springs. He revealed that on some nights, up to 150 kids were roaming the streets in the middle of the night. However, Clark did mention that he and Albanese discussed potential solutions to the ongoing youth crime crisis, including the idea of schools starting later in the day.
Clark acknowledged that there has been some improvement since the curfew and increased police presence were implemented, but he also warned that it could escalate again at any moment. The Prime Minister echoed similar sentiments during a press conference, noting that although there are still challenges in the community, there has been progress and the investment is making a positive difference.
During his visit, Albanese was accompanied by Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney. He emphasized the government's commitment to addressing the education needs of the Northern Territory and highlighted the significant increase in funding for flexible education programs in the past year. He also shared encouraging statistics, such as a 37% rise in school attendance for these programs and an increase in enrolments in remote government schools. Albanese expressed his determination to continue investing in the region to ensure its success and prosperity.
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