Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney has said the NT Government admitted "they got it wrong" on the winding back of alcohol restriction measures as increased crime envelopes Alice Springs.
On Tuesday Ms Burney accompanied Prime Minister Albanese and NT Chief Minister Natasha Fyles to the town who have introduced immediate restrictions on alcohol sales as a "circuit breaker" to improve community safety.
Speaking on Radio National on Wednesday, Ms Burney said the three met with police, locals, the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjara Yankunytjatjara Women's Council, and the Central Australia Aboriginal Congress after touching down.
"Some of the stories we heard yesterday were nothing short of gruelling," Ms Burney said.
In a joint statement, the Minister for Indigenous Australians and Prime Minister announced a two-year $48 million package to tackle crime and support community safety.
The funding includes $14 million towards "high visibility Police and law enforcement operations" encompassing the controlled sale of alcohol, $2m toward the Tangentyre Women's Council to boost Domestic Violence services, an additional $25 for community services, $19 millions for Indigenous health, $35 million for community safety and support - including family and domestic violence services, and $99 million for Indigenous housing.
Ms Burney conceded the illegal supply of alcohol, or 'grog running', was a concern, but that "it is wrong to think" drinking is the entire issue.
"This is a very important step but the first step in what is a very complex problem or set of problems," she said.
"The underlying issues in Aboriginal communities go back to intergenerational trauma, it goes back to levels of disadvantage.
"I think alcohol is one of the major contributors to some of these problems.. it's about balance..being able to drink is not more important than being safe, in my view."
The Minister said the problem was driving people, including key workers, out of the community.
"What we heard yesterday is that doctors are leaving, people are leaving because they don't want to live here anymore," she said.
"The issue is about, in my view, addressing some of the underlying social issues, which we'll do in partnership with the Northern Territory, Government and the local government. Plus, of course, the immediate issue that hopefully these restrictions will have some effect on."
Calls for a federal government response to the increase in crime following the pullback of alcohol restrictions from mid 2022, including calls from Indigenous bodies, have been widespread in recent months.
Asked where the federal intervention has been, Ms Burney pointed to immediate measures being adopted.
She said "enormous gains" were made following Tuesday's meetings, with a report on the effectiveness of the new restrictions to be handed down next week.
Ms Burney said a Voice to Parliament informing policy decisions may have helped avoid the current situation.
