The Alice Springs Women’s Shelter reported an “astonishing” 500 more women and children had sought its help this year compared to last year.
Its chief executive Di Gipey said that was despite government and police statistics showing a drop in alcohol and domestic violence-related assaults and alcohol-related presentations at the hospital’s emergency department.
She said police referrals to the centre were also up by 110 since October, “which is quite a lot”.
“So they’ve arrested less people, but referred more people into our service,” Ms Gipey said.
She called on the Territory Government to look at the shelter’s data and work with them before declaring alcohol policies a success.