The central Australian town of Alice Springs is experiencing a spike in social unrest and violence, prompting a rapid visit by the prime minister and temporary restrictions on alcohol. Some are calling for permanent alcohol bans, but local Aboriginal organisations say this won’t fix the core issues: long-term neglect of housing, health and welfare. Sarah Collard reports from Alice Springs and Indigenous affairs editor Lorena Allam explores why 20 years of government interventions failed to prevent this crisis