NT pours $1.9m into plan to reduce booze harm

A $1.19 million investment into alcohol harm research by the Gunner Government will help save lives, according to experts.

The project will investigate the long-term impact of the Banned Drinkers Register and other measures introduced by the NT Government to reduce alcohol harm.

The funding, part of the Alcohol Harm Minimisation Action Plan, was described as a “major step forward” by Australian Research Council Project lead and Deakin University Professor Peter Miller (pictured).

“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,” Prof Miller said.

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

Central Australian Aboriginal Congress chief executive Donna Ah Chee said it was pleasing an important longitudinal study had been funded.

“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,” she said.