The Northern Territory will extend alcohol restrictions in Alice Springs for at least two years after incidents of domestic violence and assault plummeted by more than a third. The move follows an outcry from locals who had demanded for months that grog bans be implemented. As the restrictions were extended, pressure on Anthony Albanese over the Indigenous voice referendum intensified, with supporters saying the body must be established so it can negotiate a treaty, undermining the Prime Minister’s declaration that the referendum was “not about a treaty”. In January Mr. Albanese announced alcohol restrictions would be implemented in Alice Springs after the media revealed the extent of the crime wave gripping the town following the expiry of federal “Stronger Futures” restrictions in July 2022.
The restrictions introduced takeaway alcohol bans on Mondays and Tuesdays, and limits to the purchasing of alcohol during the rest of the week, and town camps and communities reverted back to being complete dry zones in February. The decision was made following “extensive” analysis of crime data by the NT government. But it has rattled the travel and hospitality industries which fear they will bear the brunt of the decision. One government source said there were “huge amounts of data” behind the decision, which would “save women and children”. Figures showed total recorded assaults in Alice Springs dropped from more than 260 in January to 170 in April. At the time, an NT government spokeswoman said it was clear the measures did work. “Over the last 3 months we have seen these alcohol restrictions work, and support our frontline workers,” she said.
“Domestic violence has dropped by a third in the months since the takeaway alcohol restrictions were reintroduced into the Northern Territory town.” In December, weeks before the NT government reinstated alcohol restrictions, assaults in Alice Springs reached a record high, at 368 incidents in a month. It is the second time the restrictions have been extended, with a previous extension occurring in April.
Source: Compiled by APN from media reports
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