MEDIA STATEMENT 18 JUNE 2026
AMSANT welcomes extension of Alcohol Protected Areas
The Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory (AMSANT) has welcomed the Northern Territory Government’s decision to extend Interim Alcohol Protected Areas (IAPAs), providing certainty for communities and maintaining important protections against alcohol-related harm.
AMSANT CEO Donna Ah Chee said the announcement reflects the strong evidence that regulation of alcohol supply, including through ‘dry areas’, plays an important role in reducing violence and improving community health.
The announcement follows calls from AMSANT at the recent Association of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies Northern Territory (AADANT) Conference for the Government to provide certainty around the future of Alcohol Protected Areas before the current arrangements expire.
“We welcome the Government providing certainty ahead of the current expiry date,” Ms Ah Chee said.
“We have seen what happens when effective protections are removed, and we have also seen the positive impact they can have when they are in place.”
Ms Ah Chee said the extension is consistent with the Government’s commitments to improving community safety and reducing family and domestic violence.
“The evidence is clear that effective alcohol supply regulation reduces alcohol-related violence, trauma and harm,” she said.
“The right of women and children to be safe must remain the overriding concern.”
Ms Ah Chee said the decision will provide reassurance for communities, health services and organisations that have been concerned about the future of the protections.
“AMSANT looks forward to continuing to work with the Northern Territory Government, Aboriginal communities and partner organisations to ensure we have sensible regulation of alcohol to improve community safety, health and wellbeing across the whole Northern Territory.”
ENDS
Media contact: Amy Price, 0437 027 156
You can download the PDF version of this media release here.