Chief Minister Michael Gunner needs to show leadership in Alice Springs amidst ongoing racial tensions that came to a head late last week when residents were advised to avoid the town centre over “social unrest”, Territory Alliance MLA Robyn Lambley says.

Ms Lambley told Mix 104.9 on Monday morning that residents have become fearful, anxious and scared to speak about current unrest in the community.

“You can call it a racial divide or racial tension and that always creates problems and you know the first person to say that is ridiculed and I know people are probably cringing as they listen to me but… I have to be the voice of the people and I know that this is happening at the moment,” Ms Lambley said.

“People don’t want to talk about it because they’re scared but it’s time for some leadership down here.”

Ms Lambley’s comments follow text messages sent to Alice residents on September 3, telling them to avoid the town centre due to social unrest.

“I still don’t clearly know what happened,” Ms Lambley said, “but the Education Department [and town council] sent messages out to people wanting them to keep their children and staff safe.

“People are very fearful and aware of this volatility in Alice Springs at the moment.”

Ms Lambley said the education department “retracted it” and it was hard to track down what happened and who sent the messages.

“We don’t know who it was and we can’t explain it, which was all quite weird and as I said it sort of rings true that people sort of don’t want to get involved in,” she said.

“It’s fear, it’s anxieties, that misunderstanding or lack of recognition, and it has to be addressed… You can’t just pretend it’s not happening.”

The text message said “Bradshaw PS advice NT Police have requested families avoid the centre of town this afternoon Thur 3/9 due to social unrest. Thanks www.mgmBeSafe.com”.

Police said they did not issue warning, everything is ‘safe’ despite arrests and weapon seizure

Southern command acting commander Craig Laidler told the ABC that police did not issue the warning.

“The centre of town is fine for people to attend — town is safe,” he said.

Cmdr Laidler said earlier that day there had been a “dispute” but it was not a threat and was dealt with quickly, after police arrested three men and seized an undisclosed “weapon”. The council was told to not run a wellness event that was held on the lawns, where people involved in the dispute headed, he said.

Alice Springs principals were contacted by the Department of Education after they were alerted to be vigilant in the CBD from a “third party”, a department spokesperson told the ABC.

On Monday morning, Ms Lambley mentioned the committal hearing last week of Constable Zachary Rolfe for the alleged murder of Kumanjayi Walker in Yuendumu.

“We’ve had a lot of people in town from Yuendumu, a lot of very upset people who were, you know, extraordinarily well behaved,” she said. “Despite that, there was a lot of tension.

“From my perspective, with a small amount of effort, someone like the Chief Minister or Chansey [Paech] if he is to become the Minister for Central Australia could do a bit of work in trying to unify the town, and the whole region of Central Australia.

“It’s about creating understanding and a more… peaceful approach.”