A report commissioned by the Northern Territory and Federal Governments has recommended the Territory urgently legislate further alcohol restrictions in Central Australia.
Long-time bureaucrat Dorelle Anderson was tasked with advising on whether Intervention-era alcohol bans should be temporarily reinstated in the face of a spike in crime and alcohol-fuelled violence in the town.
Part of the report, seen by RN Breakfast, recommends changes that go beyond the emergency restrictions announced during the prime minister's trip to the town last week.
Under the recommendations, restrictions would stay in place until alcohol management plans were developed by communities that would allow them to opt out.
NT Chief Minister Natasha Fyles and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese are meeting to discuss the report later today.
The Chief Minister has refused to confirm that opt-out bans were recommended in the leaked report.
She stressed during an interview on Sky News that the report contains "recommendations — plural".
She would not commit to immediately releasing the report to the public, as called for by co-chair of the Joint Council on Closing the Gap Pat Turner.
"It will be publicly provided, but I've heard loud and clear from the people of Alice Springs that this is more than just alcohol," she told ABC Alice Springs.
"Alcohol is a big part of it, and that's why I will be working with the prime minister to address these issues and build upon the work we've been doing as a Northern Territory government."
The NT government has been criticised for allowing the bans to lapse last year without transition plans recommended by Aboriginal health organisations.
Yesterday Ms Fyles said there would be no "knee-jerk" reaction to the report by Ms Anderson, who was appointed Central Australian Controller by the prime minister and is reporting to both governments.
Mr Albanese said yesterday he was open to "immediate action" if it was recommended in the report.
Aboriginal groups maintain pressure for help beyond alcohol restrictions
During a number of media interviews on Thursday morning, Ms Fyles said police data indicates that the emergency measures imposed last week are having an impact.
They include takeaway alcohol-free days on Mondays and Tuesdays, with bottle shop opening hours restricted from 3pm-7pm on other days.
The claim was backed up by Peoples' Alcohol Action Coalition (PAAC) spokesman John Boffa.
The long-running local group has continued lobbying the NT government to change its post-bans opt-in system to an opt-out model, alongside the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress health service.
But Dr Boffa told RN Breakfast alcohol was only one part of the solution.
"We know that alcohol is a social determinant of health… and we know it's a cause not a symptom. So if you address that, you will make a big difference, and we've done that," he said.