Top-down federal intervention
Critics said the bill gives Canberra too much power over Northern Territory alcohol rules and community plans, displacing local decision-making instead of backing Territory and community control.
Northern Territory Safe Measures
Current status
This bill did not become law and is no longer proceeding.
Policy area
Government & democracy
What does this bill do?
The bill would let the Commonwealth mark some Northern Territory communities as alcohol-restricted areas and set up community-led alcohol plans to reduce alcohol harm.
Why was it introduced?
The July 2022 sunset of the Stronger FuturesThe earlier Commonwealth law that set alcohol controls in some Northern Territory communities before those measures ended in July 2022. measures left Northern Territory communities facing significant increases in alcohol-related harm. The bill reinstates those lapsed alcohol controls by letting the Commonwealth declare protected areas and oversee community-led alcohol management plans.
Broader context
When Stronger FuturesThe earlier Commonwealth law that set alcohol controls in some Northern Territory communities before those measures ended in July 2022. alcohol controls in the Northern Territory ceased in July 2022, communities that had relied on those restrictions were left without the earlier Commonwealth backstop, and by January 2023 Alice Springs was facing a public safety crisis marked by rising alcohol-fuelled violence and disorder. After the Commonwealth and Northern Territory announced plans to restore dry zones, the Northern Territory Safe Measures Bill 2023The proposed law that would bring back alcohol restrictions and community alcohol plans in parts of the Northern Territory, but it never became law. was introduced to reinstate protected areas and community alcohol plans, but it never passed and lapsed at the end of Parliament in July 2025.
Key criticism
The main case against the bill was that it would impose another top-down Commonwealth intervention on Northern Territory communities, overriding territory decision-making and risking a repeat of past failed alcohol-control approaches. That criticism came mainly from Labor, the Greens and David Pocock, who said alcohol harm was real but should be tackled through Territory-led, community-led and longer-term social measures instead.
Who supported it?
Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price introduced this bill. Speeches supporting it came from Liberal Party, CLP, Nationals, LNP.
Introduced in Senate 07 Feb 2023
Failed in Senate 21 July 2025
Did not reach House —
Did not become law —
Did it become law?
No
The bill did not complete passage through Parliament.
Final passage
No final passage
The bill has not completed passage and is no longer proceeding.
Time before failure
895 days
From introduction to the final recorded step before the bill stopped proceeding
Meaning
What does this bill do?
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The bill would let the Commonwealth mark some Northern Territory communities as alcohol-restricted areas and set up community-led alcohol plans to reduce alcohol harm.
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People in an alcohol-protected areaA community or area where the bill would restrict alcohol, including takeaway alcohol, and require permits or other controls. would need a permitA formal approval a person would need to buy takeaway alcohol in an alcohol protected area. to buy takeaway alcohol from local licensed sellers.
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The Commonwealth MinisterThe federal minister who would have the power to approve plans, declare protected areas, and ask for venue investigations under the bill. would decide whether to approve a community alcohol planA community plan for managing alcohol use and harm, which this bill would let communities draft and have the Commonwealth Minister approve., but could leave it undecided if local people were not properly consulted or most residents did not support it.
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The Commonwealth MinisterThe federal minister who would have the power to approve plans, declare protected areas, and ask for venue investigations under the bill. would be able to ask the Northern Territory GovernmentThe Territory government that would still play a role in investigating licensed venues and working with communities on alcohol measures. to investigate a licensed venueA bar, club, hotel or other venue that holds a liquor licence and could be investigated if it is linked to serious alcohol harm. suspected of causing serious alcohol harm to vulnerable people.
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The bill would require a Senate review within a year to check whether alcohol laws across Australia are reducing alcohol harm in vulnerable communities.
Show source excerpts
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The Safe Measures Bill allows alcohol protected areas to be prescribed in communities in the Northern Territory, and will provide a clear framework for the community-led development of Alcohol Management Plans (AMPs). This framework will require the Northern Territory Government to lead the development of responsibility, awareness, preparedness and management of the consumption and reduction of alcohol-related harm in vulnerable communities.
Northern Territory Safe Measures explanatory memorandum -
Subclause 11(3) provides that licence holders in alcohol protected areas must not make sales of takeaway alcohol unless the purchaser holds a permit.
Northern Territory Safe Measures explanatory memorandum -
Subclause 17(6) provides that the Commonwealth Minister is not required to determine whether to approve a plan if they are satisfied the people living in the area have not been sufficiently consulted about the plan or that a majority of people living in the area covered by the plan do not support the plan.
Northern Territory Safe Measures explanatory memorandum -
The Bill also provides that, where the relevant Commonwealth Minister has reasonable grounds to believe that particular licensed premises are linked to substantial alcohol-related harm to vulnerable people, the Commonwealth Minister will be able to request the Northern Territory Government to appoint an assessor under the Northern Territory’s Liquor Act 2019 to examine those premises.
Northern Territory Safe Measures explanatory memorandum -
The Bill provides for a Senate Review to be carried out within one year of the commencement of the Act in relation to various laws of each jurisdiction, to assess the effectiveness of these laws in reducing alcohol-related harm amongst vulnerable communities.
Northern Territory Safe Measures explanatory memorandum
Context
Broader context for this bill
When Stronger FuturesThe earlier Commonwealth law that set alcohol controls in some Northern Territory communities before those measures ended in July 2022. alcohol controls in the Northern Territory ceased in July 2022, communities that had relied on those restrictions were left without the earlier Commonwealth backstop, and by January 2023 Alice Springs was facing a public safety crisis marked by rising alcohol-fuelled violence and disorder. After the Commonwealth and Northern Territory announced plans to restore dry zones, the Northern Territory Safe Measures Bill 2023The proposed law that would bring back alcohol restrictions and community alcohol plans in parts of the Northern Territory, but it never became law. was introduced to reinstate protected areas and community alcohol plans, but it never passed and lapsed at the end of Parliament in July 2025.
- July 2022
Stronger FuturesThe earlier Commonwealth law that set alcohol controls in some Northern Territory communities before those measures ended in July 2022. alcohol controls cease in the Northern Territory
The bill's explanatory material says the earlier Stronger FuturesThe earlier Commonwealth law that set alcohol controls in some Northern Territory communities before those measures ended in July 2022. alcohol measures ended in 2022, removing restrictions the new bill aimed to restore.
Australian Parliament House ↗ - 24 Jan 2023
Alice Springs public safety crisis prompts calls for new alcohol restrictions
The Prime MinisterThe federal minister who would have the power to approve plans, declare protected areas, and ask for venue investigations under the bill. travelled to Alice Springs as federal and Territory governments considered tougher alcohol restrictions and appointed a regional controller to advise on the deteriorating law and order situation.
Australian Financial Review ↗ - 06 Feb 2023
Commonwealth and Territory governments announce plans to reinstate alcohol bans
Anthony Albanese and Natasha Fyles announced legislation to restore dry zones in central Australia after a snap review into rising alcohol-fuelled violence and community disruption in Alice Springs.
Australian Financial Review ↗ - 07 Feb 2023
Northern Territory Safe Measures Bill 2023The proposed law that would bring back alcohol restrictions and community alcohol plans in parts of the Northern Territory, but it never became law. is introduced in the Senate
The private senator's bill was introduced to bring back lapsed Stronger FuturesThe earlier Commonwealth law that set alcohol controls in some Northern Territory communities before those measures ended in July 2022.-style alcohol controls and create Commonwealth-backed alcohol protected areas and community plans.
Hansard ↗ - 21 July 2025
The bill lapses at the end of Parliament
Because the bill did not complete its passage, it fell away when Parliament ended and its proposed Commonwealth alcohol-control scheme was not enacted.
Parliamentary timeline ↗
Legislative route
How did it move through Parliament?
House Senate
Introduced 07 Feb 2023
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
Second reading opened 07 Feb 2023
A ministerThe federal minister who would have the power to approve plans, declare protected areas, and ask for venue investigations under the bill. or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
Second reading debate 08 Feb 2023
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Scrutiny of Bills review 08 Mar 2023
The scrutiny committee said the private senator’s bill may raise scrutiny concerns because it reversed the legal burden of proof and included significant penalties.
Comment made
Scrutiny News, 10 March 2023Second reading debate 09 Mar 2023
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Second reading debate 23 Mar 2023
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Lapsed at end of Parliament 21 July 2025
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Key criticism
The main case against this bill
The main case against the bill was that it would impose another top-down Commonwealth intervention on Northern Territory communities, overriding territory decision-making and risking a repeat of past failed alcohol-control approaches. That criticism came mainly from Labor, the Greens and David Pocock, who said alcohol harm was real but should be tackled through Territory-led, community-led and longer-term social measures instead.
Opposition focused more on who should control the response than on denying the alcohol harm crisis.
Repeats failed short-term restrictions
Opponents argued the bill largely repackages earlier Stronger FuturesThe earlier Commonwealth law that set alcohol controls in some Northern Territory communities before those measures ended in July 2022.-style alcohol bans and would be a short-term bandaid, rather than solving the deeper drivers of violence and harm.
Wrong level of government and missing deeper support
Several critics said the Northern Territory already had power to manage alcohol harm, and that the better response was long-term investment in housing, health, education, justice reinvestment and other support services.
Further sources
Votes
Recorded votes
No recorded votes were found before this bill stopped proceeding.
Parliamentary debate
Who spoke, and what they said
Start here — lead voices
Sponsor speech Supports
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price supports the bill as a way to bring back alcohol restrictions and accountability to protect vulnerable communities in the Northern Territory.
Read in Hansard ↗ Lead opposing voice Opposes
Marielle Smith
Smith says Labor will oppose the bill because it would impose an unnecessary federal intervention in an area the Northern Territory governmentThe Territory government that would still play a role in investigating licensed venues and working with communities on alcohol measures. already has the power to manage.
Read in Hansard ↗ Lead non-major voice Opposes
David Pocock
Pocock says he understands the crisis in Alice Springs and supports more consultation and structural change, but he argues this bill wrongly overrides territory laws.
Read in Hansard ↗ Lead voice Supports
Matthew Canavan
Canavan says the opposition will support the bill because alcohol restrictions in the Northern Territory worked and their removal was a serious mistake that helped drive crime and disorder in Alice Springs.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
Labor
6 speakers · 5 oppose · 1 unclear
Labor
6 speakers · 5 oppose · 1 unclear
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Marielle Smith ★ Smith says Labor will oppose the bill because it would impose an unnecessary federal intervention in an area the Northern Territory governmentThe Territory government that would still play a role in investigating licensed venues and working with communities on alcohol measures. already has the power to manage.
“Supporting this bill would be overriding the Territory's role in legislating for itself and legislating on the topics that it does have jurisdiction and capability to legislate on. But those considerations—this question that where there is a difference here around how an intervention should happen, about whether the federal government should intervene or not—are about a response and a solution. This is not a question about need—the needs of people living in Alice Springs and Central Australia.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Jana Stewart Jana Stewart opposes the bill, saying it is unnecessary and just repackages failed Stronger FuturesThe earlier Commonwealth law that set alcohol controls in some Northern Territory communities before those measures ended in July 2022.-style alcohol restrictions.
“This bill is not necessary, it is not needed and it is mostly just a lot of hot air.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Malarndirri McCarthy Malarndirri McCarthy argues against the bill as a federal intervention, saying the Northern Territory governmentThe Territory government that would still play a role in investigating licensed venues and working with communities on alcohol measures. is already making the needed changes and that another major intervention would repeat past mistakes.
“I am such a firm believer in democracy in this country. I'm such a firm believer in the empowerment of people at every level, as flawed as we may be in our ability to make and enable others to have the power to stand up for themselves, we've got to always keep trying to get it right. To step in over the Northern Territory government a second time with a major intervention? Not after what we've gone through, after 15 years.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Jess Walsh Walsh opposes the bill, saying it imposes a top-down Commonwealth approval power that disempowers Northern Territory communities.
“That is why I am speaking against this bill today.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Karen Grogan Karen Grogan speaks to the bill, focusing on i do appreciate the Senator's deep experience and concern for the Northern Territory, and Alice Springs in particular.
“I do appreciate the Senator's deep experience and concern for the Northern Territory, and Alice Springs in particular. I really do.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Jenny McAllister McAllister says more must be done to keep people safe in Alice Springs, but opposes the bill because she считает federal legislation is unnecessary and the wrong response.
“We know people are doing it tough in Alice Springs and that more needs to be done to improve community safety, particularly to protect women and children. It has been my privilege in my time in this place to have had some responsibilities that have afforded me opportunities to work with the many people in community who every day get up and apply themselves exclusively to protecting women and children right across the country. We need to keep women and children safe in all communities all around Australia. And we need to keep people safe in Alice Springs. But the government and I disagree with the proposed solution to this problem in the bill. This bill is not necessary and federal legislation is not necessary. Federal intervention is not the right step.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Coalition
8 speakers · 9 contributions · 8 support
Coalition
8 speakers · 9 contributions · 8 support
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Matt O'Sullivan Matt O'Sullivan supports the Northern Territory Safe Measures Bill 2023The proposed law that would bring back alcohol restrictions and community alcohol plans in parts of the Northern Territory, but it never became law., saying it fills a long-standing gap after years of government inaction and is needed to add stronger governance and services beyond alcohol restrictions alone.
“I thank very much Senator Nampijinpa Price for bringing on this bill and I encourage the Senate to support it, because enough is enough. We've got to have real action to tackle some of these issues.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Kerrynne Liddle Liddle supports the bill because she says it adds needed checks, better detail and a one-year review to help protect vulnerable people in the Northern Territory.
“This private senator's bill requires a review within one year by the Senate in relation to the effectiveness of these laws. It is not seeking to remove the ability for these communities to have alcohol management plans. What it does is describe in greater detail the framework for decision-making in much more detail than the Northern Territory legislation does. It deserves support.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Paul Scarr Scarr supports the Northern Territory Safe Measures Bill 2023The proposed law that would bring back alcohol restrictions and community alcohol plans in parts of the Northern Territory, but it never became law. and says the Senate should back it because he believes local communities and Aboriginal leaders were ignored when alcohol and welfare restrictions were lifted.
“I commend this private senator's bill to the Senate.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Susan McDonald McDonald strongly supports the bill, saying it is needed to restore alcohol restrictions and protect vulnerable Northern Territory communities from violence and harm.
“So I'm very proud of this private senator's bill from Senator Nampijinpa Price. I support it in every way and I hope that the government will consider supporting it to provide them with some tools to continue the protection and oversight of communities where the most vulnerable people have been affected by alcohol violence and by alcohol abuse. I commend this legislation to this place.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Perin Davey Davey says the Nationals will support the bill because it is needed to protect vulnerable Territorians from alcohol-related harm and give communities tools to act.
“Senator Price's bill's intention is to protect all Territorians, especially those most vulnerable Territorians who face alcohol addiction or associated harms from family members with alcohol addiction—the related harms those bring for them, their families and the wider community. I congratulate Senator Price and I thank her for her tireless work. I thank her for bringing these issues to this place, raising them so that we should all be listening. What is happening in the communities in and around Central Australia is a tragedy that need not be. With this bill, we can start to put in place mechanisms that allow communities to introduce harm-reduction policies and to look at what can be done to ensure that their children are safe, their wives are safe and their families are safe. I thank Senator Price for her tireless work, and I trust and implore all senators in this place to have the courage and decency to support this bill. I commend the bill to the chamber.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price ★ 2 contributions Price strongly supports the bill and wants the Senate to back it because she says alcohol restrictions are needed to reduce violence, addiction and related harm in the Northern Territory.
Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Jacinta Nampijinpa Price on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.
Second reading speech
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price supports the bill as a way to bring back alcohol restrictions and accountability to protect vulnerable communities in the Northern Territory. She says it is needed because alcohol-related violence and harm have worsened and current approaches have failed to deal with addiction.
“This Bill will set a framework of accountability for alcohol management plans to be developed, with alcohol restrictions in place to protect our vulnerable communities.”
Read this contribution in Hansard ↗Second reading speech
Price strongly supports the bill and wants the Senate to back it because she says alcohol restrictions are needed to reduce violence, addiction and related harm in the Northern Territory. She argues the existing approach has failed and that the bill would restore stronger controls and accountability.
“Senators, I plead with you to help me save the lives of those I love and those I'm democratically elected to represent and whose lives we are all responsible for. I seek your bipartisan support to make my hometown community and vulnerable communities throughout the Northern Territory safer. If we can save one woman from becoming the next domestic violence or homicide statistic, we are winning. If we can prevent one child from being sexually abused and left with a venereal disease or internal physical and psychological scarring for life, that is one child. But I know we can do better than this.”
Read this contribution in Hansard ↗ -
David Van Van supports the bill and urges the Senate to pass it because he says it will restore stronger alcohol controls and help address violence and disorder in the Northern Territory.
“I encourage everyone here to vote in favour of this bill for the good of all Australians.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Greens
1 speaker · 1 oppose
Greens
1 speaker · 1 oppose
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Dorinda Cox Cox opposes the bill because she says alcohol bans and other top-down interventions will not solve the Northern Territory crisis and will only act as a short-term bandaid.
“This bill's top-down approach fundamentally ignores the generational trauma—it's all absent from that. Dispossession, trauma and the oppression that are at the heart of this crisis continue to be the ongoing oppression that First Nations people face each and every day in this country.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Minor parties and independents
1 speaker · 1 oppose
Minor parties and independents
1 speaker · 1 oppose
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David Pocock ★ Pocock says he understands the crisis in Alice Springs and supports more consultation and structural change, but he argues this bill wrongly overrides territory laws.
“Again, whilst I acknowledge Senator Nampijinpa Price's passion for this issue and her continued advocacy, I will not be supporting this bill.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
Full record
- Status
- Not Proceeding -- Collected from the APH bill page.
- Originating house
- Senate
- 07 Feb 2023
Senate · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
- 07 Feb 2023
Senate · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A ministerThe federal minister who would have the power to approve plans, declare protected areas, and ask for venue investigations under the bill. or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
- 08 Feb 2023
Senate · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
- 09 Mar 2023
Senate · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
- 23 Mar 2023
Senate · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
- 21 July 2025
Senate · Lapsed at end of Parliament
Lapsed at end of Parliament
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills
Comment made
The scrutiny committee said the private senator’s bill may raise scrutiny concerns because it reversed the legal burden of proof and included significant penalties.
The committee considered the bill in Scrutiny Digest 2 of 2023 and noted scrutiny concerns about the reversal of the legal burden of proof and significant penalties.
Scrutiny News, 10 March 2023