An independent Alice Springs MLA says the Prime Minister may need to declare an emergency intervention for the town that possibly includes a military response to deal with the ongoing crime crisis, after the Gunner Government has ignored the town’s cries for help.

Robyn Lambley said that while asking for federal intervention is an “extreme measure” the situation is currently so dire that residents are living in constant fear and action needs to be taken to restore law and order to the town.

“Perhaps we’re at that point again, asking the Prime Minister to intervene and look at just what is going on with law and order,” she said on Mix 104.9.

“The Federal Government isn’t really responsible for law and order in any part of Australia unless it gets to a magnitude in which it’s almost out of control. And then you bring in the army and you bring in, you know, the intervention, like we saw in 2007.

“To ask the Prime Minister to intervene is an extreme measure. And perhaps we are at that at the moment.”

Ms Lambley said there is a sense of anger and frustration in the community caused by the Chief Minister and Police Minister not addressing the crime crisis in any meaningful way.

She said many residents she spoke with are afraid to go outside, which is having a negative psychological effect on all residents, especially women.

But she said she recognised the same problems were occurring in Northern Australia towns including Townsville and Broome and in Darwin and other NT communities.

“So there is a bit of a theme. It’s about Aboriginal disadvantage and disengagement,” Ms Lambley said.

“It’s about a Northern Australian context I think, and if the Prime Minister can help us out on that level, at that scale, then that might be very, very useful. And maybe we are where do need to press that emergency button, which is probably where it’s culminating to that, we’re reaching a climax.”

Ms Lambley added that other options currently being explored will need to be exhausted before a federal emergency could be declared, but said “I think we’re very close to needing something” of the scale of the 2007 intervention.

“It may not be the army but it’s something it’s a response of that scale and a response that will make a difference,” she said. “Draw a line in the sand and say, ‘okay, that’s enough, we’re not putting up with your behavior anymore’.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison met with Alice Springs Mayor Matt Paterson while he was in town last week to discuss the crime crisis and other matters, after Mr Paterson wrote a letter to federal and NT politicians in January calling for help.

Mr Morrison said last week he would look at options the Federal Government could assist with but suggested the NT Government would have to first recognise the Alice Springs crime crisis as a serious problem and take steps to deal with it.

“They have to acknowledge that there’s a serious problem,” he told MIx 104.9 last week. “As Matt just said to me, we can’t fix this problem if people don’t think there is one.”

Questions have been sent to Police Minister Nicole Manison.