Senator Nampijinpa Price talks to Kieran Gilbert, Newsday, Sky News

29 April 2026

Subjects: Sharon Granites

E&OE……………

KIERAN GILBERT:

Thanks for your company on Newsday. We're standing by for a news conference with the NT Police Commissioner on the search for the missing five-year-old Sharon. Let's bring in the Country Liberal Senator for the NT Jacinta Nampijinpa Price. Senator, thanks for your time. This is every parent's worst nightmare, isn't it, what we're seeing at the moment.

SENATOR JACINTA NAMPIJINPA PRICE:

Yes, it absolutely is. I know the community is really feeling it right now and rallying around the family. Young Sharon is part of my extended family. I am her aunt. I know that my family are really upset about this situation, and I suppose calling for anyone with any information to please come forward with that information. I know that sometimes in these situations there is a reluctance, if anybody has any information, particularly in relation to Jefferson Lewis, the best thing to do is speak to police. This can be done anonymously as well. I know there are those who fear reprisal through payback and those kinds of things. But the best thing that individuals can do if they have any information at all is to speak to police and provide that information. I have been speaking to police myself and helping in whatever way I can when information has been brought forward to me by family members and members of the community. This is the fourth day now, and all we want to do is to be able to bring young Sharon home.

KIERAN GILBERT:

Absolutely. I think many around the country holding their breath at the moment because it's — we just hope that there is a good outcome, a positive outcome for the little girl. And can I ask you about the town camps themselves? Can you reflect on that? Is this part of a systemic issue around safety and security?

SENATOR JACINTA NAMPIJINPA PRICE:

Absolutely. You know, town camps are places that really can be really desperate places at times. This particular town camp where young Sharon was staying in is a town camp, where previously I've lost a niece who was a young mother where she was stabbed and killed in that particular town camp. It's a town camp where another of my cousin's children was accidentally run over and hit by a car at the front of this town camp. But life is really bloody tough in these places. And, you know, they're supposed to be places that are free of alcohol, but it's not necessarily the case that this is. So there's the broader issue of individuals with, you know, long rap sheets and criminal convictions who are in and out of jail, they frequent town camps as well. It is a combination of these places that can be absolute hellholes and these situations, we just don't wish them to ever happen and for children to have to go through any of this and families to have go through this.

KIERAN GILBERT:

No, indeed, and that law and order question as well, given this suspect was only recently released, what does it say about the arrangements around parole and supervision?

SENATOR JACINTA NAMPIJINPA PRICE:

Yes, this is one thing that our justice system needs to be very strong on, I believe, especially if individuals have such horrific rap sheets. These are individuals that probably shouldn't be out on our streets. When something like this happens, it brings it right back into focus, the need to be really quite tough on such individuals. I have advocated for far more support for victims in relation to these sorts of individuals as opposed to often what we see as leniency towards people like Mr Lewis. And so I would urge our justice system, our judicial system to put at the forefront the need of victims before any perpetrators when it comes to decisions around bail, around any of those sorts of issues. It's about protecting the vulnerable within our communities. We all need to be strong on this and take a strong position on this, whether it's from state and territory to federal governments. We all need to play our part more broadly in communities as well and within families to ensure that we're putting the needs of victims first. There has been some suggestion that some family members of Jefferson Lewis may be assisting him and I would urge those individuals, if there are any, to put Sharon before this individual and do everything they can to assist.

KIERAN GILBERT:

Absolutely. We certainly hope and pray that she's going to be okay and we send you our best wishes and to the family concerned. I hope for good news on that front Senator.

SENATOR JACINTA NAMPIJINPA PRICE:

Thank you, Kieran.

[Ends]