Nationals Senator Matt Canavan has criticised Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, calling him “Pontius Pilate” for “washing his hands” of the youth crime issue in Alice Springs.

Mr Canavan said he thinks it would be “right and proper” for Mr Albanese to respond to Indigenous communities and non-indigenous people who live in Central Australia and are “crying out for help”. 

“Anthony Albanese is playing the role of Pontius Pilate as we approach Good Friday and completely washing his hands of this issue – he’s nowhere to be seen,” Mr Canavan told Sky News Australia. 

“He’s running a million miles away from the Indigenous people of Australia since he lost the Voice last year.

“Those Indigenous communities and non-indigenous people who live in Central Australia are crying out for help here and they want assistance and I think it’ll be right and proper for our nation’s prime minister to respond to them and provide every effort available to help bring law and order back to Central Australia.”