Alcohol bans are set to be reintroduced in central Australia after a snap review recommended tighter restrictions to address a surge of crime and antisocial behaviour in Alice Springs.
The measures announced Monday mean that Aboriginal people living in remote communities and town camps in the Northern Territory will not be able to buy takeaway alcohol, although communities will be able to lift the bans if 60% of residents vote in favour of an alcohol management plan.
The NT government will “urgently” bring forward legislation in the next sitting of parliament to implement the restrictions, chief minister, Natasha Fyles, told reporters on Monday.
She said the federal government has also agreed to $250m in additional funding for central Australia for a raft of measures, including youth engagement programs, job creation, improved services and support for on country learning.
The alcohol bans were recommended in a snap review commissioned in the wake of rising crime in Alice Springs. Local health organisations attributed the spike in crime to the easing of interventionist-era alcohol restrictions which came to an end in July, meaning liquor became legal in some communities for the first time in 15 years.
In her report last week to the NT chief minister and prime minister, newly appointed central Australia regional controller, Dorrelle Anderson, a Luritja woman, recommended law changes to ensure remote communities and town camps remain dry, to address the underlying causes of disadvantage and crime and to ensure needs-based funding for services and organisations.
The report warned failing to “seriously address” the drivers of alcohol abuse and youth crime will mean that harm will continue “year after year”.
During question time prime minister Anthony Albanese acknowledged the challenges and said systemic disadvantage was a primary driver. “This is about intergenerational disadvantage. It is about a lack of employment services, a lack of community services, a lack of educational opportunity,” he said.
Last month fresh alcohol restrictions were imposed on Alice Springs, banning residents from buying takeaway alcohol on Monday and Tuesday and restricting takeaway alcohol sales on the other days, prompting concerns of a return to intervention-era policies.
But Fyles said the new rules announced Monday are a way to move away from “race-based alcohol policies” and denied the new restrictions were a return to those policies under the intervention.
“This isn’t Stronger Futures. This is territory-based legislation. I’ve always said we need to be agile in this space and we’re trying to find that balance between respecting local community voice,” Fyles said Monday.
Fyles said the vast majority of remote Aboriginal communities are already dry and told reporters the measures already in place in Alice Springs are having an immediate impact with reduced pressure on police and authorities.
“We need that to continue. We’re seeing benefit from those short-term restrictions,” she said.
Fyles also stressed that addressing the underlying reasons behind crime, family and domestic violence and problem drinking was vital, adding that the Territory government is “listening” to communities about the best way forward and collaborating with all tiers of governments.
Fyles said the $250m in funding would mean better service provision in remote communities surrounding Alice Springs, alleviating some of the pressure on the town.
“This funding will focus on improved community safety and cohesion through more youth engagement and diversion programs. Job creation, particularly in the communities that surround Alice Springs, including urgent changes to replacing the failed community development program.”
