Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has visited the Northern Territory for the second time in less than three weeks after being criticised for not going after Cyclone Marcus and the rape of a two-year-old girl in Tennant Creek that shocked the nation.
While the recent trip to Tennant Creek was to support and announce a regional deal for the troubled town, Wednesday's visit to Alice Springs was about backing Country Liberal Party candidate for Lingiari, Aboriginal woman Jacinta Price.
She is regarded as a chance to steal the long-term Labor seat held by MP Warren Snowdon.
"Lingiari needs a strong voice in government, you understand every part of the community, the indigenous community, the pastoral industry, the mining industry, the industries in the city, in the town here," Mr Turnbull told Ms Price at a press conference on Wednesday.
Mr Turnbull and Ms Price spent the day meeting the Tangentyere Women's Family Safety Group, Alice Springs Town Council, the Central Land council and other community groups.
There were no concrete plans such as a city or regional deal announced, although the prime minister said he was open to it
Australia's population went past 25 million this week and congestion is a major problem in Sydney and Melbourne that could be dealt with by expanding other cities.
City deals are underway for Launceston, Western Sydney and Townsville which involve the three levels of government coming together with community leaders to boost jobs, investment and improve community services.
Alice Springs Town Council has said previously it was prepared to put in $800,000 towards a "city deal" that would result in the relocation of government agencies such as the CSIRO to the town.
Mr Turnbull also rejected suggestions his government should be contributing more to the cost of fixing the NT's infamous youth justice and protection systems.
