A raft of new alcohol restrictions will be introduced in Alice Springs, but Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has stopped short of reinstating blanket Intervention-era bans.
Key points:
- Anthony Albanese flew into Alice Springs on Tuesday after days of pressure from the opposition
- Under the changes, bottle shops will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, and only open from 3pm-7pm on other days
- The NT chief minister says the town needs "respite" from alcohol-related harm
Mr Albanese flew to the outback town for meetings this afternoon amid a storm of sudden political pressure and media attention on high crime rates.
Under the changes, Mondays and Tuesdays have been designated as takeaway-alcohol-free days, with daily opening hours otherwise restricted to between 3pm and 7pm.
Alcohol sales will also be limited to one transaction per person per day.
A recent surge in violence and crime in Alice Springs has been blamed on the NT government's handling of the end of 15-year-old alcohol bans introduced as part of the Intervention.
Mr Albanese left the door open to changes that would see the bans partially reinstated, and communities required to organise to opt out of them.
"These are complex problems [in Alice Springs] and they require a full solution, which won't be immediate, which requires different levels of government to work together," he said.
Aboriginal peak bodies had argued against the NT government's "opt-in" system, which took effect the day after the bans expired halfway through last year, and instead advocated for an "opt-out" transition period.
In response, the NT government has repeatedly said it does not support race-based policy, but it has not addressed the transition criticism.
On Tuesday, NT Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said it was "now clear" that change was needed.
She said expected "not everybody is going to be happy" with the announcements.
"We've done more than any other government around alcohol policy and measures to reduce harm in our community," she said.
"But we need to give the community respite and support, and we need to do that immediately."
The announcements come after days of national headlines following calls by the local mayor for the army or federal police to be sent in — calls which were taken up by Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and several media commentators.
Ms Fyles said Mr Dutton and the former Morrison government had not acted to extend the bans while in government.
"Peter Dutton was a part of the Coalition cabinet that sat there and let the Stronger Futures laws lapse in the Northern Territory," she said.
"Yet over the last few weeks, he's played politics with this issue without even visiting the Northern Territory."
A new senior bureaucrat has also been appointed and tasked with advising on whether to adopt an opt-out model by mid-next week.
Arrernte woman and long-time public servant Dorelle Anderson will serve as Central Australia controller and report back to both governments, Mr Albanese said.
The alcohol purchase limits will be in place for an initial period of three months.
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2023-01-24 08:04:59Z
CBMiX2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIzLTAxLTI0L250LWFsaWNlLXNwcmluZ3MtcHJpbWUtbWluaXN0ZXItYWxiYW5lc2UtY3JpbWUvMTAxODg3OTgw0gEoaHR0cHM6Ly9hbXAuYWJjLm5ldC5hdS9hcnRpY2xlLzEwMTg4Nzk4MA
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