Policy

Inquiry into the harmful use of alcohol in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities

In March 2017, Professor Marcia Langton and Dr Kristen Smith made a submission to and provided evidence to the Inquiry into the harmful use of alcohol in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities as invited expert witnesses. The evidence Marcia and Kristen provided addressed key issues regarding the lack of government approvals of Alcohol Management Plans (AMPs) in the Northern Territory developed at a community level, calls for safer drinking areas on Aboriginal land, alcohol supply, regional and child-centred approaches to alcohol management policy. Much of the evidence provided was included and cited in the Final Report of the Inquiry.

Marcia and Kristen’s submission described what is known about AMPs, the impact of Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), alcohol supply to Aboriginal communities and the complexity of alcohol policy in Australia.

Research use for policy/legislative change

• Alcohol Management Plans: Innovation in Research and Evaluation: This research contributed to the drafting of the legislation ‘Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory Act 2012’.