Remote communities could vote on new booze bans to combat skyrocketing youth ... trends now
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Communities in central Australia could participate in a formal vote on establishing alcohol bans as federal and territory governments work to combat the Alice Springs crime crisis.
Northern Territory Chief Minister Natasha Fyles suggested the Electoral Commission could hold the vote on whether communities want to opt-in or out of widespread alcohol bans.
Her comments were made following Tuesday's meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney and community leaders to discuss ways to curb anti-social behaviour.
Ms Fyles said community consultation needed to be a key part of alcohol management plans, particularly in discussions about alcohol bans.
Alice Springs has faced a wave of youth crime in recent years (pictured, a young man attempting to break into Alice Spring's Todd Tavern)
'We can't look at Alice Springs in isolation, we need to look at the broader community and this is something where communities have had the option to opt-in to being a dry community,' she told ABC Radio on Wednesday.
'Do we go out to a ballot? Do we get the Electoral Commission to go out to these communities?
'Then the matter can be settled confidently knowing that all views have been heard.'
Mr Albanese and Ms Fyles announced a three-month ban on the sale of takeaway alcohol in the region on Mondays and Tuesdays and reduced trading hours on other days as well as a limit of one purchase per person daily.
Ms Burney promised tough new restrictions on takeaway alcohol sales were just the beginning of measures to combat surging youth crime in Alice Springs.
She said the government would consider all options and further alcohol restrictions were likely to be on the table.
'I find it very difficult to see a future where there are not further restrictions on alcohol,' she told ABC TV on Wednesday.
The minister also believed a successful referendum to establish an Indigenous voice to parliament would help communities, particularly in the Northern Territory, in the long-term.
'If the voice
