Tourism, salt and toxic waste, 780 metres below
Tourism? What a red herring! Salt mining? Well that’s a good way to dig a hole in the ground. Toxic waste disposal?… a lucrative way of getting rid of unwanted, dangerous, contaminating, material. We don’t need this in central Australia, the residents of Tijikala don’t need this storage dump on their country. Do these companies think we’re stupid? We don’t want fracking in the NT, or anywhere. There are viable alternatives, and if the NT Gov was not tied up with big mining and big business, they’d be free to govern and develop the Territory in a sustainable, responsible way. Too late it seems.

Alice students fire up for climate action
Thanks to the students in Alice for taking a strong stand. You are informed and passionate. Generations before you are leaving behind an enormously uncertain future, and more damage than we’ll ever know. I’m with you. So many are. Lead on. Gratitude.

West MacDonnells blaze: sorrow and questions
Thank you Fiona, Kieran and Erwin for this extensive coverage of the fires west of Alice, their devastation, causes and conditions.
I am in Aotearoa, New Zealand, and have been hiking in remote country. Now in a place I can get WiFi, I have checked in with Alice Springs News to find out what’s going on at home.
I am heartbroken. It is hard to be so far away at a time like this, when so many people are feeling as I do – shock, loss. Real grief.
I hope for community conversations with key agencies funded to protect country from this kind of devastation by fire.
We need to be talking and working together as a whole community.
Thanks for such a comprehensive report Fiona.
I know how deeply connected and committed you are to country. And to Alice Springs News for your commitment to reporting issues in depth.

Torrent of toxic Facebook posts after Mall melee
We need to stop and think about why these young people are so angry, and ask, where is the support and social cohesion necessary for them to make a way forward (in 2 world’s), into education, jobs, a stable life?
Many are bearing the scars of generational trauma, racism, alcohol abuse and domestic violence.
The only way forward for this town is to invest in children and families, build a stronger community from the bottom up.
The approach must be strengths-based, giving young people the chance to address this trauma and marginalisation, and to access the kind of education and training that will link them to jobs.
If we don’t invest in healing, strengthening and skilling up young people, nothing will change.
So come on Dale, lead the way.
This is the time to get it right for young people in Alice.
We can’t go on ignoring what they need, and polluting the environment with blame-the-victim, racist vitriole.
Come on Gunner, Wakefield. Come on Alice.

Fracking OK, but under ‘strict laws’ – Gunner
What a sell-out on every level. Not in my name. Never.