Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Hansard source

There are a lot of issues across the country and we know, Senator, that in dealing with Central Australia we have seen terrific steps taken by local organisations like Lhere Artepe, who are doing a tremendous job on the streets of Alice Springs, and with a great deal of hope—there is nothing wrong with that. They've got 50 to 80 representatives in that organisation who, in the morning, the afternoon and the evening, have their foot patrols. I'm very grateful for the work they are doing. They've stepped up because they've been supported and encouraged, but they've come up with solutions of how they want to deal with that and I thank the businesses of Alice Springs, who've embraced and welcomed that.

We still have a long way to go, but there is no way I'm going to put that down. I'm very conscious of the fact that we still have a lot of youth, not just in Alice Springs but right across the country, who need support, and we will continue to do the best that we can with them.