NT alcohol ban report to be released next week
Dominic Giannini |
A report believed to recommend a return to alcohol bans in Northern Territory communities will be released next week after NT and federal cabinet meetings.
A number of NT communities have been struggling with a spike in crime after mandatory alcohol bans lapsed.
Anthony Albanese and NT Chief Minister Natasha Fyles discussed a report into the issue at a meeting in Canberra on Thursday, following the prime minister’s visit to Alice Springs last week.
“The report will be considered by respective cabinets next week,” Mr Albanese wrote on Twitter after Thursday’s meeting.
“The report will be released by the NT government after cabinet consideration, confirming next steps.
“Our governments will listen and respond with the action local communities want us to take.”
The report was written by Central Australian Regional Controller Dorelle Anderson.
Media outlets are reporting it recommends the territory legislate alcohol restrictions while communities devise alcohol management plans before they can choose to opt out of the bans.
Ms Fyles earlier blamed the former federal coalition government for its heavy-handed action against Indigenous communities, including blanket alcohol bans.
“Communities have said to us, ‘We don’t want to opt-in (to alcohol bans), we’re sick of alcohol being a race-based issue’,” she said in Canberra before the meeting with Mr Albanese.
“We put in place legislation that did provide that ability for dry communities to continue – a number of communities reverted to being dry.”
The Central Australian Aboriginal Congress has called for alcohol bans while communities are consulted about whether they wish to stay dry.
It says an opt-out rather than an opt-in model should then be adopted.
The NT government last week moved to restrict the sale of alcohol in Alice Springs amid a surging youth crime crisis that has left many in the community calling for federal intervention.
NT Attorney-General Chansey Paech said the government “coming over the top and continuing to oppress people and tell them what is good for them does not work”, referring to Howard-era interventions.
Ms Fyles has also proposed running a ballot in central communities as a litmus test for whether there is an appetite for alcohol intervention.
“Ensuring that we do hear from the whole community, not just perhaps the vocal few, that was where the idea of a ballot came forward,” she said.
Ms Fyles said police numbers and investment had increased under the NT Labor government, but her attorney-general added that more Commonwealth investment was needed to help support Indigenous empowerment.
Alice Springs Mayor Matt Paterson said alcohol bans shouldn’t be a permanent fixture, but were a welcome first step.
“I want to be clear that I’m not suggesting that it be forever and so I’m glad to see that (the report) does quote the alcohol management plans,” he told Sky News.
Opposition frontbencher Karen Andrews said more police on the ground needed to be considered by the federal government.
“We do know that there has been a significant uptick in issues once alcohol bans were lifted,” she told Sky News.
“The Albanese government is fairly and squarely accountable for the issues that are arising now. They have sat on their hands for months.”
AAP