Major parties campaign in NT with pledges on youth crime, Indigenous health services

The prime minister has announced the government will spend $14 million on driving down crime rates in Alice Springs, if the Coalition is re-elected. Meanwhile, Labor is promising more resources for Indigenous health services.

Scott Morrison announces a $14 million plan to tackle youth crime in Alice Springs.

Scott Morrison announces a $14 million plan to tackle youth crime in Alice Springs. Source: SBS News / Tom Stayner

The prime minister has announced $14 million of funding will got to address increasing crime rates in Alice Springs if he is re-elected.

Mr Morrison said the Coalition will support a community-led response to reduce youth crime and anti-social behaviour in Alice Springs, as well as more mental health and support services, following a request from the Alice Springs Town Council.

Assaults in Alice Springs have risen by almost 6 per cent in the previous 12 months, house break-ins were up more than 46 per cent, and commercial break-ins have increased by over 60 per cent.
Mr Morrison said increased employment levels will lower crime rates and the government plans to boost support for apprenticeships and training programs in the Northern Territory.

"Jobs do create hope. They do build community, they do create self-respect and they do build confidence," he said.

The most substantial portions of the funding would be $1.2 million to the Tangentyere Council to deliver the Ngurra Palyapayi - Safety at Home project, $1.3 million to Casse Australia Alice Springs to provide Youth Camps, and $1.5 million to Choice Australia Management to provide youth training and early intervention services.
The Coalition would also spend $600,000 in additional CCTV surveillance capability for Alice Springs.

An additional $2 million would go to developing safe and secure places for young people, including a new youth-focused area for the public library.

A new Head to Health adult mental health service would receive $3.4 million over four years.

Barnaby Joyce defends PM over Solomons security pact

Meanwhile, the federal government continues to face questions on its handling of Australia's relationship with Solomon Islands after the Pacific nation signed a security agreement with China earlier this week.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce defended the government's handling of the situation, saying there were multiple phone calls and meetings held between officials of both countries in recent months.
He said the Australian government is concerned over China's growing influence in the region.

"I just hope that China does not get the capacity to set up a naval base because it's obviously an intimidating tactic to Australia. They want to.

"There's no doubt about that because we see what they did in the South China Sea where they said they weren't going to militarise and obviously for the Solomons I take their word, but I say be really careful to invite a totalitarian power into your country because it's going to affect your sovereignty."

PM doubles down on 'lower tax guarantee'

The prime minister has doubled down on the Coalition's plans not to introduce new taxes.

Scott Morrison's pledge will see $100 billion added to the national debt as part of a 'lower tax guarantee' with no new income, superannuation, business or housing taxes.

"Lower taxes are at the heart of our economic plan for a stronger economy and stronger future," the prime minister said.

The Coalition is upping the scare campaign by suggesting Labor will introduce new taxes, despite the opposition already ruling it out. Labor has floated taking stronger action to curb multinational tax evasion.
Mr Morrison says his new tax guarantee will mean Australians will be $100 billion better off but there are questions over whether this figure represents already legislated cuts.

Labor's treasury spokesperson Jim Chalmers said Australians should dismiss the promise of lower taxes.

"You can't believe a word Scott Morrison says about the economy, especially about tax," Mr Chalmers told the ABC Insiders program.

Mr Morrison will head to Darwin later on Sunday for an ANZAC dawn service on Monday, with Labor deputy Richard Marles to attend in Mr Albanese's stead.

Labor pledges resources for Indigenous health workers

Ahead of landing in the Northern Territory, Labor has pledged to train an additional 500 Indigenous health workers and invest in life-saving dialysis and rheumatic heart disease treatments.

The party says it will work closely with Indigenous health services to deliver up to 30 new dialysis units to treat chronic kidney disease and double the federal funding to combat Rheumatic Heart Disease with $12 million for prevention, screening and treatment.

Penny Wong at an event in Darwin 24th April 2022
Labor has pledged to train an additional 500 Indigenous health workers and invest in life-saving dialysis and rheumatic heart disease treatments. Source: SBS News
It will also invest $15 million to improve water supply in remote communities to enable new dialysis units in these communities for the first time.

"Throughout the pandemic, Aboriginal controlled health services worked tirelessly to protect the health of their communities," Labor's Indigenous spokeswoman Linda Burney said.

"Building their workforce through a dedicated, culturally appropriate traineeship program and supporting their capacity to undertake preventative care will save lives and bring us closer to closing the gap in First Nations health outcomes."

Labor faces a strong challenge to retain the federal seat of Lingiari, which covers 99 per cent of the Northern Territory.

The seat was held by Warren Snowdon on a five per cent margin, but with the MP retiring, Labor will need to hold it against former Alice Springs mayor Damien Ryan.

PM attends Orthodox Easter service

On Saturday evening, Morrison called for peace in Ukraine during his attendance at a service at the Greek Orthodox Church in Kogarah, Sydney.

He joined the Saturday evening service in the seat of Barton - also attended by Greece’s Minister for Culture, Lina Mendoni - lighting candles and speaking with parishioners, before speaking about unity during Easter.

"Let us pray for peace, particularly in Ukraine," he said, addressing the congregation with his wife, Jenny, also in attendance.

"Let us pray for our nation... that together we will continue to be strong; that together we will continue to enjoy this blessed nation of Australia."

He also used a few phrases in Greek in his message.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison lights his candle from Archbishop Makarios at the service held at the Greek Orthodox Church in Kogarah on 23 April 2022.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison lights his candle from Archbishop Makarios at the service held at the Greek Orthodox Church in Kogarah on 23 April 2022. Source: AAP / AAP
"I want to thank you for your great sense of community," he said. "Faith and community that has sustained our country through these past difficult years.

"And as I look out at the lights here in Kogarah this evening, my heart is full of hope.

"You are lighting up the country, with your faith and your belief and your community. And this enables us, I think, to move forward with great confidence."

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Labor frontbenchers will continue campaigning on Sunday in Sydney before making their way to Darwin ahead of the ANZAC dawn service on Monday.

Labor leader on day three of COVID isolation

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese is now spending his third day in isolation.

He said he was putting his time in isolation to good use, working on his campaign speech.

In a message on Twitter on Saturday, he posted a photo of himself smiling with his dog, Toto.
Senior Labor MPs have been standing up in Mr Albanese's absence, addressing the travelling press pack in alternation after ruling out creating a de facto opposition leader for seven days.

Ahead of landing in the Northern Territory, Labor has pledged to train an additional 500 Indigenous health workers and invest in life-saving dialysis and rheumatic heart disease treatments.

The party says it will work closely with Indigenous health services to deliver up to 30 new dialysis units to treat chronic kidney disease and double the federal funding to combat Rheumatic Heart Disease with $12 million for prevention, screening and treatment.

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7 min read
Published 24 April 2022 8:46am
Updated 24 April 2022 3:35pm
By Tom Canetti
Source: SBS, AAP

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