Alice Springs news
Alice Springs news; NewspaperNT
2010-09-23
This publication contains may contain links to external sites. These external sites may no longer be active.
This publication contains many links to external sites. These external sites may no longer be active.
English
Community newspspers; Australia, Central; Alice Springs (N.T.); Newspapers
Erwin Chlanda
Alice Springs
v. 17 issue 34
application/pdf
Copyright. Made available by the publisher under licence.
Erwin Chlanda
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00042
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/232924
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/659688
Sir The Chief Minister Paul Henderson has resorted to outright deceptions to justify the differences between alcohol restrictions in Darwin and Alice Springs. When asked on ABC radio [on September 9] whether his government would ban alcohol sales before 2pm in Darwin as well as Alice Springs, the Chief Minister peddled the ridiculous line it wouldnt because: Well I think Darwin is a bit different in as much as we are a capital city and a capital city that caters for thousands of tourists, not hundreds of tourists. (ABC Darwin breakfast program). In effect the Chief Minister was claiming the tourism industry in Alice Springs is of limited importance to the local economy. Fact 1 386,000 tourists visited Alice Springs in 2009. Fact 2 Tourism is worth $300 million to the Alice Springs economy each year. Fact 3 In 2009 visitors in Alice Springs spent $1225 per visit compared to $1149 in Darwin. Fact 4 Many tourists are annoyed to discover they cant buy takeaway alcohol before 2pm and business is lost as a consequence of those restrictions. Fact 5 Paul Henderson will never impose the Alice Springs restrictions on Darwin because he fears a political backlash in Darwin. The Chief Ministers comments have again demonstrated just how far out of touch he is with life south of the Berrimah line. Matt Conlan Shadow Minister for Central Australia CLP must support Alice alcohol reforms Sir Terry Mills must stand up and overturn the County Liberal Partys plan to extend bottle shop trading hours in Alice Springs that will re-open the rivers of grog. The Henderson Government has announced the most comprehensive reforms in the Territorys history to curb alcoholfuelled violence and crime, including in Alice Springs. A range of actions in Alice Springs has seen serious assaults drop by 21% and sales of pure alcohol reduce by 18%. However in Alice Springs alcohol continues to be consumed at twice the level than Darwin and Palmerston, is involved in two thirds of all violent crimes and contributes to 70% of policing costs. Alice Springs also has three times the rate of protective custody incidents than Darwin and Palmerston. Thats why the Henderson Government has said enough is enough and is taking tough action to turn off the tap to problem drinkers who continually commit alcohol fuelled violence and crime. Delia Lawrie Minister for Alcohol Policy Where is affordable housing in The Alice Sir NT Shelter asks why Alice Springs is missing out on the types of new affordable housing that is now beginning in Darwin. Through the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS), Ethan Affordable Housing has been allocated 1200 subsidies for new affordable housing dwellings in Darwin and Palmerston. The subsidies equate to $9,000 per dwelling, per year, for 10 years yet none are approved for Alice Springs where the housing crisis is worse than in Darwin. NT Shelter is hosting an Affordable Housing Forum in Alice Springs tomorrow to highlight these and other issues in the Alice Springs housing sector. Dr Louise Crabtree will be talking on another topic aimed at producing long term affordable housing through Community Land Trusts. According to NT Shelters Executive Officer, Toni Vine Bromley, both our interstate speakers offer exciting and valuable insights for developers and others in Alice. We believe the gap in the current housing system between public housing and the private rental market is failing to deliver the housing opportunities which would assist the whole economy of Alice Springs.