"We need to talk about it as a country": The Alice Springs Mayor on the reality of life there

Alice Springs has come and gone from national news coverage over
the past few years. It started with the lapse of alcohol and
pornography bans in remote communities around Alice Springs in
mid-2022. Property offences increased by almost 60%, assaults rose
by 38%, and domestic violence assaults doubled. Since then, steps
have been taken to reinstate restrictions, but the town and its
surrounding communities have remained in the national spotlight. We
debated who to speak with, but all roads pointed back to Matt
Paterson, the young, outspoken Mayor who won the job by just two
votes in 2021. We'd love it if you could complete our News Club
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