Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has visited Alice Springs discussing youth curfews. The visit comes after the PM's dispute with domestic violence advocate Sarah Williams following a women's protest.

Alice Springs

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made a closely observed visit to Alice Springs, marking his first trip to the town in over a year, amidst rising concerns over domestic violence and youth crime challenges in the region. The visit highlighted the government's dedication to addressing the complex social issues afflicting the central Australian community. Albanese's engagement in Alice Springs included announcing an $8 million investment for upgrading school buildings, signaling the government's broader commitment to improving local infrastructure and support systems.

During his stay, the Prime Minister addressed the severe domestic violence issues that disproportionately affect Indigenous communities, noting that an Indigenous person is seven times more likely to be killed by a domestic partner compared to other Australians. This alarming statistic underscores the urgent need for focused interventions in the region. Additionally, the visit was not without controversy, as Albanese faced criticism and allegations from Sarah Williams, an organizer of recent rallies addressing violence against women. This dispute, centered around whether he should have engaged more directly with protest efforts, posed a distraction from the government's agenda.

The situation has put Albanese's administration on the defensive, especially in light of a tense political climate leading up to an important National Cabinet meeting. This upcoming assembly is seen as critical for the Albanese government to present substantial measures to address the intertwined issues of domestic violence, youth crime, and community safety. Potential areas of focus discussed with state premiers include refining bail laws, enhancing offender monitoring, and expanding services proven to reduce violence. These discussions aim at establishing best practice frameworks that can be adopted across jurisdictions to tackle these pervasive challenges effectively.



Prime Minister visits Alice Springs amidst domestic violence tensions

He's on the sidelines listening. Yes, if we learn how to deal with this stressful environment... There are complex issues demanding leadership. Sorry to interrupt your class here. So the Prime Minister is under the spotlight when he steps up. It has been a deviant time in Central Australia. But what my government is determined to do is to make sure that we invest. $8 million to upgrade school buildings was put on the table as Anthony Albanese did an overnight trip to Alice Springs. It's his first visit to the town, grappling with violence in more than a year. Youth crime is a persistent problem, so too is domestic violence. An Indigenous person is seven times more likely to die at the hands of a domestic partner. Violence against women is on the government's agenda, but an incident between the Prime Minister and Sarah Williams, who organised rallies on the weekend, and questions over whether he should have taken the microphone has become a distraction. The Prime Minister obviously has had some serious allegations made against him. He's been called a liar. I wish her well. People can see the video for themselves. They can see what people said and what people didn't say. Regardless, the fallout is being felt. The Prime Minister stood up and marched on this issue on the weekend and Peter Dutton didn't. It's a damned if you do, damned if you don't. But I just think that, you know, those people, those staff in your office have to make sure that this is really well spoken to with the organisers. The Arbenizie government is in damage control, which makes tomorrow's National Cabinet meeting all the more important. It needs to come up with something tangible and big. I'm speaking with state premiers that they want to have the discussion at National Cabinet as ways in which best practice can be replicated. That includes bail laws, monitoring of offenders and services proven to be effective. Ashley Raper for 10 News First.

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