First Greens candidate elected mayor in Central Australia with promise to change outback town’s story

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The newly elected mayor of Alice Springs, Greens-backed candidate Asta Hill, says it's time to tell the real story of the town which has in the past been the focus controversy about crime. Darwin's new Lord Mayor will be former Country Liberal Party minister Peter Styles after counting was finalised early on Saturday. He's promising transparency and a focus on input from the community.

Transcript

00:00Changing the story of Alice Springs.

00:05It's the slogan Aster Hill campaigned on and is now promising to deliver in her new role as Mayor,

00:11winning the race by 56 votes late on Friday.

00:14I'm still pinching myself, I won't lie.

00:17But yeah, very, very joyful at the moment.

00:19Ms Hill has made history as the first Greens-endorsed candidate to be elected as Mayor in the Territory.

00:25She wants to talk proudly about the outback town after years of crime-focused media attention.

00:31We as locals have been feeling those impacts for a number of years.

00:34So yeah, that opportunity to tell the real story about this town and see the positive impacts flow from that

00:41is something that the community has really gotten behind.

00:44The new Mayor also campaigned on creating positive spaces for young people to address boredom in the town.

00:50Part of it is giving young people, children and families more to do.

00:55Accepting that we do have a boredom problem in this town.

00:59So opening up public spaces to young people.

01:02In Darwin, former country Liberal Party politician Peter Stiles has won the contest for Lord Mayor.

01:08While he's hesitant to reveal specific policies before formal declaration of his victory on Monday,

01:13Mr Stiles says transparency and community input are a priority.

01:18You've got this beautiful park here for a start, have some town hall meetings.

01:21Come out and listen to the people.

01:23Peter Stiles served as a minister in Adam Giles' government which lost the 2016 election in a landslide

01:29after ongoing cabinet reshuffles, controversy and claims about a lack of transparency.

01:34Has your view on transparency changed since the time in that government?

01:38Well if you look at my history, I've always been transparent,

01:41I've always been out there and always been available and approachable.

01:45After his eight year tenure, outgoing Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis appears reluctant to hang up his robes just yet.

01:52Filing a complaint with the NT Electoral Commission alleging unauthorised distribution of how to vote cards.

01:58I can't accept this result as final pending the investigation by police and the ICAC.

02:06In a statement released this afternoon, Peter Stiles said neither he or his campaign were involved.

02:12The Electoral Commission says the matter has been referred to police.

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