Alice Springs plan to counter violence is deemed degrading

Federal Indigenous Health Minister Warren Snowdon. Photo / Getty Images

A plan to address rising alcohol-fuelled violence in Alice Springs has been dismissed by indigenous advocates as "degrading and patronising".

The A$4.1 billion ($5.6 billion) package of emergency measures, announced by the federal Government, follows a wave of property crimes and assaults in the volatile Northern Territory town, a popular tourist destination.

Recent incidents include the stabbing of a German tourist in central Alice Springs.

Local business owners are so alarmed by the crime wave that they have formed a lobby group, Action for Alice, and run television ads demanding that the Northern Territory Government enforce law and order. Among other things, they want a curfew for under-18s.

Authorities plan to install extra street lights, expand a youth centre, help people move into public housing and create more "work for the dole" placements.

Federal Indigenous Health Minister Warren Snowdon said the 100 work placements would give young people the opportunity "to take part in community works, including landscaping, painting over graffiti and ... [installing] letterboxes".

But Alison Anderson, an independent NT politician, said the measures would do little to tackle entrenched Aboriginal disadvantage.

"We should be directing these people into real jobs," she said. "You've got trade shortages in the Northern Territory - why aren't we putting these kids through TAFE [Technical and Further Education] schools instead of getting them to put up letterboxes? It's just degrading and patronising."

Some Aboriginal leaders have blamed government "intervention" in indigenous communities for anti-social behaviour and late-night drinking in Alice Springs.