The Territory Government is undertaking progressive alcohol reforms which focus on long term change and local decision making. We are investing more than any previous government to tackle the long-term challenge of alcohol-related harm.
In January, the Government took urgent action to ensure community safety and enforce restrictions to address alcohol-related crime in Central Australia, including dry Mondays and Tuesdays, alcohol purchase limits and reduced hours of sale.
We have continued to listen to local communities and expert advice and are now further strengthening those restrictions, implementing another key recommendation of the Central Australian Regional Controller Report.
Legislation passed today, the Liquor Amendment Act 2023, means town camps and communities will revert to dry zones, with a clear and robust opt-out process requiring the development of a Community Alcohol Plan. The Plan will need to be approved by 60% of the community and by the Director of Liquor Licensing, ensuring it is in the public interest and will not have significant adverse impacts. Where an existing General Restricted Area is in place, or where a community has already opted-in, that community will not experience any change to restrictions.
Of the 96 major communities across the Territory, that means 88 will experience no change. Those communities have chosen restrictions which work for them – and we will not take that power away from them. Many of the remaining town camps, outstations and homelands which will revert to dry zones under this Bill often have few or no people living on them.
This is a new approach. It is community led with local decision making at its heart and will be coupled with a major investment in the hard work of addressing the cause of crime.
As experts and community leaders have pointed out, alcohol restrictions alone will not address the underlying causes of antisocial behaviour. The issues are complex and have developed over decades.
Following the release of the Central Australia Regional Controller’s Report, the Australian and Northern Territory Governments have announced a landmark $250 million package for Central Australia that will improve community safety, tackle alcohol-related harm, and provide more opportunities for young people.
This $250 million package is in addition to the $48 million also announced by the Commonwealth and NT Governments for additional community safety measures, such as extra high visibility police and law enforcement, family and domestic violence and other services.
Quotes attributed to the Chief Minister and Minister for Alcohol Policy, Natasha Fyles:
“Following action taken last month, we have continued to listen to local communities and expert advice and are now further strengthening alcohol restrictions. This is a new approach. It is community led with local decision making at its core and will be coupled with a major investment in the hard work of addressing the cause of crime.
“These restrictions are time-limited, providing us the space to invest in new, smarter, long-term reforms required to break the cycle of alcohol, crime and disadvantage. People in the Territory want safer communities now. They also want us to address the issue at its source so that our communities are also safer in the future.
“We already have a world-leading alcohol harm reduction framework aimed at reducing the demand for alcohol, reducing the supply of alcohol, and reducing the harm caused to Territorians from the misuse of alcohol.
“Now we are investing with the Federal Government to break the cycle of crime with major new investments that improve community safety, tackle alcohol-related harm, and provide more opportunities for young people. Together, these measures will go a long way in delivering better services, better opportunities and better outcomes for everyone – especially First Nations Territorians.”
Northern Territory Government
