Now joining me live on the line from Alice Springs is the mayor Matt Patterson.

Now joining me live on the line from Alice Springs is the mayor Matt Patterson.

Good morning, Matt, Good morning, Katie, Good morning listen.

Good morning, Matt, Good morning, Katie, Good morning listen.

Lovely to have you on the show. Hey, Matt, I will get to the other issues of the week in just a moment, but I know that the government's literally just released a statement saying that they're providing clarity on will to the people of Alice Springs with the release of a new master plan for the anzac Oval precinct. So they reckon. The master plan outlines a new location to deliver a revised Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art gallery and importantly confirmation that the anzac Oval is going to be retained for community use. Matt. I know you're probably learning maybe you know, maybe you had inside run mate, But what do you think of this master plan?

Lovely to have you on the show. Hey, Matt, I will get to the other issues of the week in just a moment, but I know that the government's literally just released a statement saying that they're providing clarity on will to the people of Alice Springs with the release of a new master plan for the anzac Oval precinct. So they reckon. The master plan outlines a new location to deliver a revised Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art gallery and importantly confirmation that the anzac Oval is going to be retained for community use. Matt. I know you're probably learning maybe you know, maybe you had inside run mate, But what do you think of this master plan?

I think it's you know, relaxes a bit of the community that thought anzac Oval was disappearing. You know, throughout the whole process. This has been going on for seven or eight years. You know, the former government were quite clear that Enzakov was staying. However, they struggled with their messaging and the CFP have come out and said that you know, they've put this visual out that sys Enzacoba will stay, so I think people can relax. And I think putting the gallery at the front of Wheel's Terrorist rather than out the back sort of bookends to todd More and I think that that'll be very beneficial.

I think it's you know, relaxes a bit of the community that thought anzac Oval was disappearing. You know, throughout the whole process. This has been going on for seven or eight years. You know, the former government were quite clear that Enzakov was staying. However, they struggled with their messaging and the CFP have come out and said that you know, they've put this visual out that sys Enzacoba will stay, so I think people can relax. And I think putting the gallery at the front of Wheel's Terrorist rather than out the back sort of bookends to todd More and I think that that'll be very beneficial.

So all in all, it's hopefully the right move and probably sort of sets everybody, what makes everybody a little bit calmer about what is going on.

So all in all, it's hopefully the right move and probably sort of sets everybody, what makes everybody a little bit calmer about what is going on.

Yeah, I think so. I just sort of think now that it's the time to just start turning some sod because this has been going on for seven years. If it was consulted, probably on the start, this would have been built and we would be promoting this around the world. But unfortunately we haven't got here and were no construction costs have tripled or quadrupled over the last few years. So one hundred and fifty million dollars six or.

Yeah, I think so. I just sort of think now that it's the time to just start turning some sod because this has been going on for seven years. If it was consulted, probably on the start, this would have been built and we would be promoting this around the world. But unfortunately we haven't got here and were no construction costs have tripled or quadrupled over the last few years. So one hundred and fifty million dollars six or.

Seven together, yeah, exactly, it's your money's going to be worth a lot less unfortunately at this point in time. Anyway, hopefully they can get it moving, because I do think it'd be a wonderful, wonderful addition to Alice Springs, particularly when you talk about tourism and getting people to the Red Center. Matt. Unfortunately, one of the issues that continues to rear its head is the issue of crime, particularly youth crime. In Alice. We know that two tourists actually had their car stolen and taken on a joy ride in Alice. A little bit earlier this week, it is alleged that four boys stole this vehicle in Emily Gap on Tuesday, Avo, leaving two female tourists stranded. We now know that these boys were aged twelve, thirteen, fourteen, and sixteen. Matt. I know you and I are both quite over talking about crime. You as the mayor, you want to be out, you want to be out promoting Alice Spring. But unfortunately these kind of garbage behavior just continues to happen.

Seven together, yeah, exactly, it's your money's going to be worth a lot less unfortunately at this point in time. Anyway, hopefully they can get it moving, because I do think it'd be a wonderful, wonderful addition to Alice Springs, particularly when you talk about tourism and getting people to the Red Center. Matt. Unfortunately, one of the issues that continues to rear its head is the issue of crime, particularly youth crime. In Alice. We know that two tourists actually had their car stolen and taken on a joy ride in Alice. A little bit earlier this week, it is alleged that four boys stole this vehicle in Emily Gap on Tuesday, Avo, leaving two female tourists stranded. We now know that these boys were aged twelve, thirteen, fourteen, and sixteen. Matt. I know you and I are both quite over talking about crime. You as the mayor, you want to be out, you want to be out promoting Alice Spring. But unfortunately these kind of garbage behavior just continues to happen.

Ye one hundred percent, And I think, you know, it is frustrating, And as you said, you know, the duty is man to talk about these things, but certainly it's something that keep banging my head on a brick wall. You know. I think that these twelve year old standing and fourteen whatever age, they just live with, you know, the fact that they know that they can steal a car and have no consequences. So I think some legislation changes that the government government have made will hopefully have some effect. And you know, I've been on record, I don't want to see a ten year old in jail. However, I want to see a ten year old put in the system where we can wrap ourselves around them and show them that we care, because leaving them to continue to commit crimes isn't going to benefit anyone, including themselves. And hopefully, now that you know, there's some policy changes from the government, some legislation changes, we can start to see a dramatic impact where you know, these kids understand that it's not to steal a car and yep, you know, yeah, tourists again start to feel safe and we don't have broken windows and all of those other things that go along with it. But unfortunately, there need to be consequences for actions and they need to know that it's not okay to continue to tenrize the community absolutely.

Ye one hundred percent, And I think, you know, it is frustrating, And as you said, you know, the duty is man to talk about these things, but certainly it's something that keep banging my head on a brick wall. You know. I think that these twelve year old standing and fourteen whatever age, they just live with, you know, the fact that they know that they can steal a car and have no consequences. So I think some legislation changes that the government government have made will hopefully have some effect. And you know, I've been on record, I don't want to see a ten year old in jail. However, I want to see a ten year old put in the system where we can wrap ourselves around them and show them that we care, because leaving them to continue to commit crimes isn't going to benefit anyone, including themselves. And hopefully, now that you know, there's some policy changes from the government, some legislation changes, we can start to see a dramatic impact where you know, these kids understand that it's not to steal a car and yep, you know, yeah, tourists again start to feel safe and we don't have broken windows and all of those other things that go along with it. But unfortunately, there need to be consequences for actions and they need to know that it's not okay to continue to tenrize the community absolutely.

And that you're not going to get away with us. And you know, if you're brazen enough to be driving a car at the police, well you're certainly not worried about, you know, about getting in a fight with another kid your own age, or you know, throwing rocks at somebody if you if you're literally feel like you're not going to get in trouble when you are targeting the police, then that is a real indicator to me that something has got to change. Matt. You know, from your perspective, you've obviously I'm assuming that you have met with the new government since they've come in, and they've obviously talked about their plans and what they're wanting to do in this space.

And that you're not going to get away with us. And you know, if you're brazen enough to be driving a car at the police, well you're certainly not worried about, you know, about getting in a fight with another kid your own age, or you know, throwing rocks at somebody if you if you're literally feel like you're not going to get in trouble when you are targeting the police, then that is a real indicator to me that something has got to change. Matt. You know, from your perspective, you've obviously I'm assuming that you have met with the new government since they've come in, and they've obviously talked about their plans and what they're wanting to do in this space.

Yeah, I mean we've met, well, I've met with a range of ministers and I mean, just going back to the tourism, we obviously signed the mu that we're extremely grateful for with the government last week. That was twenty seven million dollars, and we have written to the government to ask as a counselor to meet with cabinet. We I think we're one of the first councilors in the territory to do that a couple of years ago, to meet with the full cabinet. So we want to do that again. And I think it's easy when we rule in the room and we're not having the discussions through emails, online or whoever it may be. But it's for everyone to hold each other to account, and you know, as a level of government, the council. We've got a you know, a bandwits as well that we need to do and I think it's just having sitting in the same room and talking about, you know what, what's the outcome that we all need and how can we work together as you know elected members, and hopefully we can be able to achieve that either later this year or early into the next year. Because we know, Katie that every time this time November December, January February, everyone gets very very nervous in our springs. And we've seen Operation Ludlow come forward a month and we're grateful of that, but hopefully there's a little bit more proactive accountability from organizations and departments to make sure that we don't have the same summlers we've had the last few years.

Yeah, I mean we've met, well, I've met with a range of ministers and I mean, just going back to the tourism, we obviously signed the mu that we're extremely grateful for with the government last week. That was twenty seven million dollars, and we have written to the government to ask as a counselor to meet with cabinet. We I think we're one of the first councilors in the territory to do that a couple of years ago, to meet with the full cabinet. So we want to do that again. And I think it's easy when we rule in the room and we're not having the discussions through emails, online or whoever it may be. But it's for everyone to hold each other to account, and you know, as a level of government, the council. We've got a you know, a bandwits as well that we need to do and I think it's just having sitting in the same room and talking about, you know what, what's the outcome that we all need and how can we work together as you know elected members, and hopefully we can be able to achieve that either later this year or early into the next year. Because we know, Katie that every time this time November December, January February, everyone gets very very nervous in our springs. And we've seen Operation Ludlow come forward a month and we're grateful of that, but hopefully there's a little bit more proactive accountability from organizations and departments to make sure that we don't have the same summlers we've had the last few years.

We're not needing to go back in Alice Springs to a curfew, are we No?

We're not needing to go back in Alice Springs to a curfew, are we No?

I don't think so yet. I mean, you know that curfew is something that you know, we don't want to celebrate because it means that something's happened to have the curfew. I think at this point in time, not yet. But you know, if you have a dramatic impact, positive impact when it was issued. So we'll wait and see and hopefully, hopefully we don't get to that point because we don't need to yell, which means when we're not at that emergency declaration level.

I don't think so yet. I mean, you know that curfew is something that you know, we don't want to celebrate because it means that something's happened to have the curfew. I think at this point in time, not yet. But you know, if you have a dramatic impact, positive impact when it was issued. So we'll wait and see and hopefully, hopefully we don't get to that point because we don't need to yell, which means when we're not at that emergency declaration level.

Matt, just before I let you go, I mean, how are the people of Alice Springs feeling? Are they on tenderhooks at this at this point wondering, you know, if things are going to get really bad over the Christmas braye Ger? Are they sort of feeling as though, all right, well, we've got a new government. You know, they've got some new ideas, they've got some new legius. The police have already surged. You know, are they maybe feeling a little bit more optimistic this year?

Matt, just before I let you go, I mean, how are the people of Alice Springs feeling? Are they on tenderhooks at this at this point wondering, you know, if things are going to get really bad over the Christmas braye Ger? Are they sort of feeling as though, all right, well, we've got a new government. You know, they've got some new ideas, they've got some new legius. The police have already surged. You know, are they maybe feeling a little bit more optimistic this year?

Yeah? I think so. I think it's just that wait and see sort of attitude at the moment. You know, we understand in government how long processes take, and you know, government have made changes that they said they wouldn't. I think that that's got to be acknowledged. However, we know that that won't hit the ground here until probably January or February. So it is sort of that wait and see what the next few months look like, because you know, we don't want to go back in time. However, there are you know, we are walking on egshelves, but people are you know, have a change of attitude that they've seen some policy changes and hopefully that will flow on sooner rather than later.

Yeah? I think so. I think it's just that wait and see sort of attitude at the moment. You know, we understand in government how long processes take, and you know, government have made changes that they said they wouldn't. I think that that's got to be acknowledged. However, we know that that won't hit the ground here until probably January or February. So it is sort of that wait and see what the next few months look like, because you know, we don't want to go back in time. However, there are you know, we are walking on egshelves, but people are you know, have a change of attitude that they've seen some policy changes and hopefully that will flow on sooner rather than later.

Yeah, we're all hoping so even up here in the top end, mate. But I know for you guys, you've been battling with these issues for quite some time. We all want to see, you know, Alice springs back to its former glory where you're not having to worry about kids driving stolen cars at the police and innocent members of the public. It has to change, and you know, we really we need it to change right across the Northern Territory.

Yeah, we're all hoping so even up here in the top end, mate. But I know for you guys, you've been battling with these issues for quite some time. We all want to see, you know, Alice springs back to its former glory where you're not having to worry about kids driving stolen cars at the police and innocent members of the public. It has to change, and you know, we really we need it to change right across the Northern Territory.

Yes, and hopefully, you know, hopefully the change starts now. And you know, as I said that, this whole concept of driving the stolen vehicle at the police, I mean, you wouldn't hear about that anywhere else, and it's normalized stuff. It's happening once a fortnight. It does need a change. And I'm certainly not being critical of police Skatie because they do absolutely what they can with the resources that they have, and so I take the hat off to them. But hopefully fingers cross things change rather quickly.

Yes, and hopefully, you know, hopefully the change starts now. And you know, as I said that, this whole concept of driving the stolen vehicle at the police, I mean, you wouldn't hear about that anywhere else, and it's normalized stuff. It's happening once a fortnight. It does need a change. And I'm certainly not being critical of police Skatie because they do absolutely what they can with the resources that they have, and so I take the hat off to them. But hopefully fingers cross things change rather quickly.

Yeah, I agree. Matt Patterson, mayor of Vallas Springs. Always good to speak with you. Thanks so much for your time today.

Yeah, I agree. Matt Patterson, mayor of Vallas Springs. Always good to speak with you. Thanks so much for your time today.

Likewise, thanks Kate, thank you,

Likewise, thanks Kate, thank you,