NT police minister Kate Worden called for the document about ‘cuts’ in the police to be read
A Northern Territory minister has come under the spotlight after a photo of her reading a document about possible cuts to police and emergency services emerged amid a major crime spree.
Police Minister Kate Worden was photographed over her shoulder reading the document titled ‘Frontline staff reductions to meet NTG (NT Government) savings targets’.
An excerpt from the document appears to show potential $16 million cuts to NT Police, Fire and Emergency Services (PFES) over the next two years. An additional $31 million cut was proposed for services in 2027 and 2028.
The photo has since been circulating on social media and is believed to have been taken in crime-ridden Alice Springs.
Northern Territory Police Minister Kate Worden has been thrust into the spotlight after a photo of her reading a document about possible cuts to emergency services emerged amid a major crime spree in the state
But Ms Worden has since clarified that the confidential document she was reading was ‘not approved’ for action.
“As a government, we are consistently reviewing our fiscal position and looking at how we can better serve the territory,” she said in a statement to Daily Mail Australia.
‘A normal part of the budget process is looking at savings measures. In doing so, we need to look at every aspect to see how our budgets can bring in more money for our frontline services.
‘Departments regularly provide ministers with advice and correspondence, but these are not always approved or accepted. The document in question has not been approved.
“Our message to the community, but especially to victims of crime, is that we listen to you and take action – immediate action to stop this anti-social behavior, and long-term action with the community to break the cycle of crime.
“No solution will solve these problems, it takes hard work and tough decisions – but we will keep working on it every day.”
Paul McCue, president of the NT Police Association, said that while he did not know the full extent of the document’s contents, the prospect of staff cuts had caused “significant concern” among members.
Alice Springs has been thrown into violent chaos in recent months as community members demand government intervention (pictured of a brawl in the outback town)
“Any consideration or discussion of cutting critical front-line personnel would be an absolute disaster for the NT government and the NT community, let alone the police themselves,” he told NT News.
‘Nothing can be cut on the budget of the police, fire brigade and emergency services that does not have a direct impact on the front line and the response capacity of our members.’
The photo caused outrage among the inhabitants of the territory.
“The last thing the Territory needs right now,” one wrote.
“How disgusting is this?” said another.
It comes as the residents of Alice Springs are demanding governments take action to tackle the violence in the outback town and the hundreds of children who roam the streets aimlessly at night.
Mayor Matt Paterson told The Today Show on Wednesday that many local residents were too afraid to go to sleep, fearing their homes being broken into.
“There is so much antisocial behavior and domestic violence in our community that it really needs to get on a national stage,” he said.
Ms Worden said the document was not approved for government intervention
As many as 3,000 local residents — about 10 percent of the city’s population — attended a community meeting earlier this week to discuss the escalating crime wave.
Footage has surfaced in recent days of brawls in shopping malls, while a 16-year-old boy was recently attacked with an axe.
Disturbing video of the attack obtained by Daily Mail Australia shows three young men – one carrying an ax or hatchet – attacking the teen, punching and kicking him as he cowers in a park.
NT police confirmed that a teenage boy has been arrested over the incident, while the victim has been released from hospital.
Despite violence and crime being a part of Alice Springs’ life, the situation has worsened in the 10 months since the Northern Territory government lifted alcohol restrictions.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited the city last week and pledged $48 million in funding to tackle the crime problem.
There are also alcohol restrictions in place, with take-out non-alcoholic days on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Other days, take-away alcohol can only be purchased between 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM.
Namfon Fon’s son, 16, was attacked by three youths armed with an ax who hit him on his ‘face, abdomen, leg and other parts of his body’ in Alice Springs on Monday