Today host Brooke Boney has gone head-to-head with the man who has been documenting the crime wave that’s gripping Alice Springs.
The Indigenous TV host was visiting the troubled outback town to record a segment for the show when she interviewed Darren Clark, who runs the Action for Alice Facebook page, which highlights crime cases around the community.
The page is also frequented by those who express extreme views against Indigenous youths.
Her visit comes as the government reinstated alcohol bans in the town after removing them just last year.
During her visit to Alice Springs, Boney drove around spoke to Indigenous youths asking why there were so many children on the streets at night.
“I don’t know, they’re just running amuck down the streets,” one unidentified youth said.
“They rubbishing us, they talking about us on Facebook,” another said.
“Does it make you feel sad when they talk about you like that,” Boney replied.
“Yeah, it does,” the youth said before saying it make young Aboriginals feel like they are the “bad guys”.
Boney then talked to Clark who runs the Facebook page.
“We can’t do this for much longer for this because someone is going to die here soon. I’m the only one that’s shown the truth in this town and if I want to show even more truth, no-one would live here,” Mr Clark said.
During the segment, she slammed the “extreme” views being shared on the Facebook page.
Here is the full interaction between Boney and Mr Clark:
Boney: “I’m an Aboriginal woman. So then sometimes when I see people saying things like some of those comments, it stings.”
Clark: “Do you know all the people on there though?”
Boney: “No, no, I don’t.”
Clark: “No, that’s right. Because some of those comments are actually coming from Indigenous people that live in this town. We are a community here. We are black and white. And the black fellas of this town, they are pissed as well.”
Brooke was not happy about the ‘extremist’ views of locals. Picture: Nine
He continued: “Commercial break-ins have risen by 55 per cent, alcohol-related assault also up 55 per cent and domestic violence assault is up by 53 per cent.
“The shocking figures that paint a dire picture of a once thriving town.”
Brooke said some of the comments ‘sting’. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images
She visited the town for a Today show segment. Picture: Keryn Stevens
And was quick to voice her fears ‘someone will die here soon’ if something isn’t done. Picture: Dylan Robinson
The Northern Territory government will legislate to strengthen alcohol restrictions in Indigenous communities, in the wake of pressure to address crime issues in Alice Springs.
“We’ve heard loudly and clearly that the matter and decision of alcohol on community needs to be one that is made by the entire community,” NT Chief Minister Natasha Fyles announced on Monday.
“That is why we’re creating a circuit breaker and implementing temporary dry zones until communities can develop and vote on the alcohol management plans, the community alcohol plans, they want to see.
“It is important for all of us as Territorians to tackle this issue once and for all.”
Also on Monday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a new $250 million package, to support youth engagement and diversion programs, job creation and improving health services.
“The truth is that all governments could have done better. All governments – Labor, Liberal, Northern Territory, here in Canberra, could have done better,” he told parliament.
“This is about intergenerational disadvantage. It is about a lack of employment services, a lack of community services, a lack of educational opportunity.”
The Action for Alice Springs Facebook page. Picture: Facebook
A recent incident posted to the page, showing youths smashing a storefront. Picture: Facebook
The announcements came after Central Australian regional controller Dorrelle Anderson’s report was released publicly, calling for immediate restrictions for takeaway alcohol and extra federal funding.
Ms Anderson was appointed after Mr Albanese and Ms Fyles had crisis talks in Alice Springs last month.
“Although the NT has some of the most rigorous and world-leading supply measures in place, it is clear that additional work is required to act as a circuit breaker in Central Australia to allow service agencies, including police, child protection and health providers, the necessary time to engage with those affected and support them,” Ms Anderson wrote.
“A failure to seriously address the underlying drivers of alcohol misuse and youth crime will mean these harms will continue to return year after year.”
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Ms Fyles said temporary alcohol restrictions imposed on January 24 had already provided “respite” to communities, pledging bans will be reinstated in Central Australia to prevent the sale of alcohol for people in town camps and remote communities.
Under legislation expected to be introduced next week, alcohol management plans will be able to be modified if 60 per cent or more of the community supports the changes.