ABC interviews Alice Springs mayor Asta Hill

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The new mayor of Alice Springs made political history last month, winning a tight electoral race to become the Northern Territory's first Greens-endorsed mayor. Known locally for her work as a lawyer, Asta Hill spoke to the ABC about her deep connection to the outback town.

Transcript

00:00Swapping her lawyer's robes for the mayoral gown...

00:07I was really shocked at the beginning.

00:10The Alice Springs new mayor, Aster Hill, says she's ready for the challenge

00:15and won't shy away from big issues.

00:18You know, crime is obviously really impactful to people

00:22and I have no intention of minimising that.

00:25Elected on a campaign of changing the negative narrative

00:28around Alice Springs, she's got a big job ahead.

00:31I think we have really important work to do

00:34in getting the good news stories out.

00:36Born and raised in Alice Springs,

00:38Aster had her sights set on big things after high school.

00:41I got to like 17 and I think like many people,

00:45teenagers in particular, I was in a hurry to get out of town.

00:49First law school, then work for the United Nations

00:52in the former Yugoslavia.

00:54Straight hour law school working on a genocide prosecution.

00:57What an experience.

00:59Then came a scholarship to study in New York.

01:02But a family tragedy brought her rushing home.

01:05The death of her little brother still raw.

01:08He drowned in the river.

01:11So a very tragic and unexpected accidental death

01:16which just, you know, swept the rug from under all of us.

01:22The community response drew her back.

01:26I saw the way the community wrapped around my mum

01:29and my older brother, my family.

01:31The way the community rallied together,

01:33hosting like fundraising concerts for his funeral.

01:36And I don't know, just so much goodwill and togetherness.

01:40The first Greens endorsed mayor, she also ran in the Northern Territory election last year.

01:45And while she insists the job isn't a stepping stone into politics,

01:49she hasn't closed that door completely.

01:51None of us have a crystal ball.

01:53Now raising her own children in the town, she's proud to call home.

01:57Our community connection is our strength.

02:00It's what fortifies this town against absolutely any challenge we might face.

02:06Crime, natural disaster, economic challenges.

02:11Four years to tackle those challenges.

02:14Four years to tackle those challenges.

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