Calls for Federal Government to match Alice Springs commitment in Carnarvon and northern WA

Durack’s federal representative and Carnarvon’s Shire president say Federal funding to address social dysfunction in Central Australia needs to be matched by a commitment to the Gascoyne and northern WA. The two figures warned there could not be a gap between resources in the Northern Territory and WA, and that funding needed to be spread out to address the nationwide issue of crime in regional communities. On Monday, the Federal Government announced a $250 million plan and alcohol restrictions to address antisocial behaviour in Central Australian communities, focusing on youth engagement, education, job creation, domestic violence services, and improved health care. It comes after Alice Springs became a centre of focus for politicians in Canberra in January. Federal Member for Durack Melissa Price applauded the concern given to Alice Springs but said she believed regional communities in northern WA, such as Carnarvon and towns in the Pilbara and Kimberley, needed the same level of attention. “The generational community issues being experienced in the NT are the same as in many parts of regional WA,” she said. “We have all spent years focused on closing the gap. Please don’t create a new gap between Western Australian and Northern Territory communities.” Ms Price said she strongly encouraged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his Cabinet to speak with community groups about juvenile crime in the region when they visited Port Hedland on February 20-21. Shire of Carnarvon president Eddie Smith said Federal funding was key to addressing crime in Carnarvon. “I’ve said that right from the go, State and Federal governments need to take ownership of these issues, and fund resources required to rectify,” he said. Cr Smith agreed with Ms Price that other communities needed to be given the same level of attention as Alice Springs. “It needs to be addressed Australia-wide, you can’t isolate the problem into individual areas,” he said. “I think it’s important people realise there are a lot of communities out there like Alice Springs and Carnarvon who are saying what they are saying.” The shire president said remote communities across the country struggled to have their voices heard, and needed to continue campaigning for change. “The way to attract attention from State and Federal governments is to make a noise, and I applaud Alice Springs for doing it,” Cr Smith said. “Good on them for getting that funding in that region, but now it’s time for the Government to realise ‘we’ve got to fund everyone that’s got these issues’ and that is going to cost a lot of money.” The Prime Minister’s office has been approached for comment.