EXCLUSIVE: Indigenous communities rocked by COVID-19 02/03/2021|4min
A Sky News investigation has shed light on the major driver behind a spike in social problems in Indigenous communities in the past year - with the evidence largely pointing to an increase in Centrelink payments.
In the past year, Alice Springs saw a sharp increase in assaults, with alcohol fuelled violence up 17 per cent and domestic violence incidents up 32 per cent.
Similar trends were seen in Darwin, with alcohol fuelled violence and domestic violence incidents both up 23 per cent.
Northern Territory Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker said police had seen “quite distinct rises. Unfortunately, what we do attribute that to is the increase of money that has been available”.