NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner has defended his government's response to crime in Alice Springs, in the face of new reports of unprovoked, daylight attacks in the town's main shopping strip.
A 38-year-old woman walking in the Todd Mall yesterday morning was allegedly the victim of a random attack by an unknown man who punched her multiple times.
NT Police said another man was also allegedly approached and randomly assaulted by the same offender that morning.
The day before, police said an officer was kicked in the head when responding to a domestic violence disturbance in the suburb of Gillen.
Mr Gunner this morning described the incidents as "outrageous and completely unacceptable" but stopped short of conceding a major rethink was needed on how to handle crime in Alice Springs.
"We've got to keep judging our resources – are they in the right spots, doing the right things, and what are our policy settings?" he said.
"We've made some policy changes across this term, made some legislation changes, we're constantly bolstering our resources and looking where they are.
"So, in my opinion, we're doing a significant amount of work."
Earlier this week, the NT government voted down a motion from Alice Springs independent politician Robyn Lambley for a new committee to be formed to focus on the region's rising crime.
"Very rarely is a committee a solution to a problem," said Mr Gunner today.
"There are a significant amount of people doing work on crime, antisocial behaviour, law and order, however you want to describe it, down in Alice Springs and the Centre.
"Police are at the forefront of a lot of that work, we are often surging extra resources into Alice Springs and Central Australia, we do take it seriously."
Alice Springs politician thrown out of parliament
Ms Lambley was thrown out of parliament as her motion was being debated on Tuesday.
In a statement afterwards, she described the move to remove her during the fiery session as "extraordinary".
"The government was clearly hell-bent on undermining me and my motion in parliament today because of how badly their decision to not support it reflects on them," said Ms Lambley.
"If sticking up for my town and fighting to get the best possible deal for the people of Alice Springs means getting thrown out of parliament, then so be it.
Parliament descends into chaos, given warning
It came as the NT Speaker on Thursday gave every member of parliament an official warning amid a chaotic start to the week's third day of sittings.
Speaker Ngaree Ah Kit denounced the parliament's "appalling behaviour" after a 12 minute shouting match between members, while a group of primary school students sat watching.
"I suggest every single member, including myself, take a long hard look in the mirror today, because we need to do better," Ms Ah Kit said.
Along with Ms Lambley's ejection on Tuesday, the Opposition Leader, Lia Finocchiaro, was also kicked out of the parliamentary chambers twice on Wednesday afternoon.
