New NT grog rules 'set Aborigines up for jail'

POLICE powers unveiled in the Northern Territory criminalise problem drinkers while failing to restrict alcohol supply, Jenny Macklin has warned.

POLICE powers unveiled in the Northern Territory risk criminalising problem drinkers for their addiction while doing nothing to restrict alcohol supply, federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin has warned.

Alice Springs will today host a crisis rally calling the new policy a "road to prison", after the Country Liberal Party government said it would allow police to issue on-the-spot alcohol bans to some alleged criminals, but refused to reinstate measures to stop them accessing grog.

A spokesman for rally organiser, the People's Alcohol Action Coalition, warned the plans would not stop alcoholics from drinking but rather "set up" more indigenous people to end up in jail.

The plans were revealed publicly before all CLP members had been consulted, prompting some to privately express serious concerns.

Deputy Chief Minister Dave Tollner last night defended the announcement, saying the CLP was cracking down on alcohol-related crime in line with its election commitments.

He denied claims the proposals had not been put to cabinet, and said consultation would take place now the policy framework had been announced.

But Ms Macklin said the proposals failed to provide a comprehensive approach to chronic levels of alcohol abuse and alcohol-related harm in the Territory.

"I'm concerned this does not seem like an effective way to better regulate the supply of alcohol to problem drinkers and instead seeks to criminalise them," she said.

"How will a person serving alcohol have any way of knowing they shouldn't be supplying alcohol to someone who is subject to one of these orders?"

Only police will be able to see the register of banned drinkers, even though it will be an offence to knowingly supply one with alcohol.

While not racially targeted, the plans, if introduced, are almost certain to have a strong effect on indigenous drinkers, and likely to see numerous people stopped, searched and asked for identification.

The Australian understands Chief Minister Adam Giles has still not responded to Ms Macklin's invitation in April to fund the creation of an Alice Springs-wide alcohol management plan.

At today's rally, Central Land Council chairman Maurie Ryan will call on the CLP to reinstate alcohol supply restrictions it previously scrapped.

"Alcohol abuse is killing my people," Mr Ryan said.

President of the Criminal Lawyers Association NT, Russell Goldflam, will warn the new police powers will increase the burden on courts.

The Australian can also reveal that the CLP's member for Arnhem, indigenous woman Larisa Lee, will today ask her colleagues to support a radically different proposal involving handing control over alcohol rehabilitation to remote communities.

Ms Lee won support for the plans from senior indigenous leaders in her electorate last week.

On its first day in office nine month ago, the CLP abolished the former Territory Labor government's Banned Drinker Register, a measure that was supposed to prevent 2500 drunks from accessing alcohol.

While the CLP maintains the BDR failed, a chorus of concern has emerged over the CLP's failure to put anything in its place.