The NT new laws reintroducing alcohol restrictions are now in force

The Northern Territory’s new laws restricting alcohol have been brought in to tackle grog-fuelled violence in communities such as Alice Springs.

Opt-out grog bans are now back in force in Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory.

The Liquor Amendment Bill passed the Northern Territory parliament on Tuesday, a few hours after it was introduced by Chief Minister Natasha Fyles on what was the NT parliament’s first sitting day of the year.

On Thursday afternoon, she tweeted the Northern Territory’s Liquor Amendment Act 2023 “is now in effect.”

Ms Fyles had been reluctant to reintroduce the alcohol bans which abruptly lapsed with the sunsetting of the Howard-era intervention law in July last year, calling them a “race-based” policy.

But she relented after pressure from federal Labor colleagues over escalating violence in Central Australia which increased following the lapse of the Stronger Futures legislation.

NT Chief Minister Natasha Fyles relented to pressure to introduce the bill. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Ms Fyles also tweeted other ways the government was addressing the issue in those communities.

“The old approach isn’t working. So we’re investing in new behaviour change programs designed with victims of crime, victim services, health workers, police and the community,” she said.

“These programs address the causes and symptoms of offending.And recognise the significant intergenerational trauma of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.

“Supporting justice reinvestment is how we’re going to affect long-term, generational change in the Northern Territory. And so far, the results are promising.”

The “urgent” reinstatement of temporary grog bans was one the recommendations Central Australian regional controller Dorelle Anderson made in her snap review of how to reduce alcohol-related harms in the region.

Anthony Albanese appointed Ms Anderson to the new position after flying to Alice Springs last month in the wake of media coverage of and community pressure over an increase in violence and crime in the outback town.

NT Chief Minister Natasha Fyles and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese address the media in Alice Springs after meeting with local leaders. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Sabine Haider

After the Alice Springs meeting, Mr Albanese and Ms Fyles announced a three-month ban on the sale of takeaway alcohol in the region on Monday and Tuesdays, and reduced trading hours on other days.

The new laws in effect from Thursday mean takeaway alcohol is again banned in town camps or remote communities that were made dry as part of the 2007 Intervention.

Any communities wanting to opt out of the bans will need to develop their own community alcohol plans and have 60 per cent or more of local residents vote in support of them.

The laws passed with bipartisan support after a row in parliament over whether Labor or the opposition Country Liberal Party should take responsibility for the deteriorating situation in Central Australia.

Opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro told parliament NT Labor government had been too slow to act.

Originally published as The NT new laws reintroducing alcohol restrictions are now in force