The Territory Labor Government is delivering safer communities and creating a better future for our children with the Alcohol Harm Minimisation Action Plan.

We committed to comprehensive evaluation of the alcohol harm reduction measures and the Australian Research Council (ARC) on Friday announced the research project proposal on Northern Territory Alcohol Reforms has been approved with funding of $1.19 million.

The project involves an extensive team of national leaders in alcohol harm reduction policy and research, linking with Northern Territory clinical service providers to provide a comprehensive evaluation of our innovative alcohol harm reduction reforms.

The project will investigate the long term impact of the Banned Drinker Register, and our other measures in the Northern Territory, on reducing alcohol related harm. The study will use qualitative and quantitative methods across urban and remote locations to assess the impacts.

We have committed to thorough evaluation of all components of the alcohol reforms and this complements other evaluation projects that have been delivered:

• Sobering Up Shelter Review

• Banned Drinker Register 6 month and 12 month evaluation

• Treatment Demand Study

• Social and Economic Costs of Alcohol Consumption in the NT. 

The partners in the research project team investigating the impact of the Banned Drinkers Register are:

• Deakin University

• NT Government

• Menzies School of Health Research

• Curtin University

• La Trobe University

• Central Australia Aboriginal Congress

• Northern Territory PHN

• Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance NT

• South Australian Medical and Health Research Institute

• Foundation of Alcohol Research and Education

• Turning Point 

Quotes from Minister for Health, Natasha Fyles:

"We are putting Territorians first with nation-leading alcohol policy and legislation to make our community safer.

“There are early indications that our policies are having a positive impact. This research funding will provide a comprehensive evaluation of the Banned Drinker Register and other alcohol harm reduction reforms we have implemented."

Quotes from Australian Research Council Project Lead, Deakin University Professor Peter Miller:

"This funding is a major step forward in the rigorous and collaborative evaluation of important policy measures meant to save lives. The partnership between independent researchers and the Northern Territory government will use the very best methods to ascertain what is working and how, as well as ensuring the voices of those impacted are heard and understood.

“This is also a substantial endorsement from the Australian Research Council on the collaboration between independent researchers and government to evaluate policy outcomes.”

Quotes from Central Australian Aboriginal Congress Chief Executive, Donna Ah Chee:

“Congress is very pleased that such an important longitudinal study has been funded.

"The Northern Territory has been leading the nation in alcohol policy reforms and it is vital that all measures are robustly evaluated.

"While the benefits of these alcohol measures are obvious to anyone who has lived in Alice Springs for any length of time there is a need to carefully look at the data and tease out the impact of the different measures.

"It is especially important that we demonstrate the extent of the relationship between alcohol consumption, interpersonal violence and the potential impact on child protection and safety.

"This study has the resources and expertise needed to achieve this.”

Media contact: Rob Cross 0439 778 095