An independent MLA’s motion to establish a non-partisan parliamentary committee to investigate solutions for the crime crisis currently gripping the Territory, that was to focus first on crime in Central Australia, has been defeated by the Gunner Government.

Robyn Lambley moved the motion Tuesday morning, saying the Parliament needed to take the politics out of addressing crime that has increased since Labor was first elected in 2016.

She called for a non-partisan inquiry to develop a three-to-five-year plan to tackle crime with a committee made up of government, Opposition and independent members.

“This is a very important motion not only for the people of Central Australia, but for all Territorians,” Ms Lambley said.

“Over the last five years we’ve seen an escalation in crime right across the Northern Territory, but never so much as what we’ve seen in Central Australia.

“We can either continue to go down the path that we’re on at the moment and see crime escalate and law and order deteriorate. Or we can do something different.”

Police Minister Nicole Manison, who has not made public comment since the Constable Zach Rolfe verdict, said it was an “important” motion that Ms Lambley raised, but that the government would not support it because it had done a “huge amount of work” in the crime and justice space.

She repeated her previous motherhood statements that there are “challenges” in tackling crime and anti-social behaviour and no “silver bullet”.

“We have never been a place free of crime,” she said. “We do have challenges.

“That’s why we are working so hard to tackle those issues.

“We’ve done a huge amount on youth justice,” Ms Manison said, adding that the Labor team had also contributed a “huge amount” in every other area impacting on crime, including health, the economy, housing and alcohol policies.

She also pledged to do “everything we can to back” police to tackle crime.

Ms Manison also said the people of Alice Springs are “amazing people” and that her “heart is filled” when she travels to the town. She did not say if she had ventured out at night in the troubled town.

Ms Manison said the government would not be backing the establishment of a select committee to look at crime in the NT.

She did not address the figures Ms Lambley provided that show crime has increased since Labor was first elected in 2016.

The CLP supported the motion, stating that the government continues to refuse to acknowledge the problem.