Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory (Alcohol Management Plans) Rule 2013
 
Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory Act 2012
 
I, Jenny Macklin, Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, make the following rule under subsection 17(3) of the Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory Act 2012.
 
 
Dated  25 February 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
JENNY MACKLIN
Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
Contents
Part 1—Preliminary                                                                                                             3
1............ Name of rule....................................................................................... 3
2............ Commencement................................................................................... 3
3............ Authority............................................................................................. 3
4............ Requirements for alcohol management plans...................................... 3
 
Schedule 1— Minimum standards                                                                                
1............ Consultation and engagement.............................................................. 4
2............ Managing the alcohol management plan ............................................. 4
3............ Alcohol management plan strategies - supply, demand and
harm reduction.................................................................................... 5
4............ Monitoring, reporting and evaluation.................................................. 5
5............ Clear geographical boundaries............................................................ 6
 
 
 
 
 
Part 1—Preliminary
  
1  Name of rule
                   This rule is the Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory (Alcohol Management Plans) Rule 2013.
2  Commencement
                   This rule commences on the day after it is registered.
3  Authority
                   This rule is made under subsection 17(3) of the Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory Act 2012.
4  Requirements for alcohol management plans
An alcohol management plan must meet each of the Minimum standards set out in Schedule 1.
Schedule 1—Minimum standards
1  Consultation and engagement
(1)     An alcohol management plan must be developed in partnership and agreement between government and community representatives by way of a comprehensive and continued community consultation and engagement.
 
(2)     An alcohol management plan must be developed ensuring the views of vulnerable groups, community members and interest groups are heard, and recognise the need for targeted and diverse approaches particularly to ensure that women and children are heard. 
 
(3)     An alcohol management plan must have been developed, where possible, with representation from:
(a)   women;
(b)   children;
(c)   men;
(d)   youth;
(e)   the elderly;
(f)    clan groups;
(g)   traditional owners; and
(h)   all residents including non-drinkers and drinkers. 
 
(4)     An alcohol management plan must have been developed, where possible, with regard to the views and potential contributions of:
(a)   local government;
(b)   health and education authorities;
(c)   relevant law enforcement and criminal justice agencies;
(d)   alcohol and other drug services;
(e)   representatives from local liquor outlets and licensees; and
(f)    businesses.
 
(5)     An alcohol management plan must have been developed with the involvement, where possible, of local and regional organisations and service providers (particularly health services).
2  Managing the alcohol management plan
 
(1)     An alcohol management plan must include governance arrangements that clearly describe the roles and responsibilities of each of the agencies and participants in the alcohol management plan, especially those involving the need for resources. An alcohol management plan must include a balance of Aboriginal community members and their interests. This may include:
(a)   the community participants indicated in Item 1(3) of Minimum standard 1;
(b)   participants who are not based in the community, including senior police, managers and policy makers at senior levels in other government agencies; and
(c)   non-government organisations which provide relevant services in the particular community.
 
(2)     An alcohol management plan must include, where relevant:
(a)   resources, roles and responsibilities of stakeholders including police and other government agencies, and their views and advice, to enable compliance with the alcohol management plan;
(b)   roles and responsibilities of local health clinics and regional service providers in helping to prevent and manage alcohol problems in the community;
(c)   responsibilities of local liquor licensees with respect to the alcohol management plan; and
(d)   evidence that the stakeholders are aware of, and accept, the roles and responsibilities specified, and have allocated sufficient time, resources and personnel to perform their share of responsibilities in relation to implementation of the alcohol management plan.
 
Note: The development, implementation and management of an alcohol management plan are primarily the responsibility of the community; however, effective implementation requires shared responsibility with relevant agencies.
3  Alcohol management plan strategies – supply, demand and harm reduction
 
(1)     An alcohol management plan must identify community-based strategies to reduce harm to individuals, families and communities that results from alcohol abuse.  These may include one or more of the following types of strategies:
(a)    strategies for controlling alcohol supply;
Note: Strategies for controlling alcohol supply may include whole of community strategies to address grog running and home-made alcohol, restrictions on sale or supply from local liquor outlets including takeaway, restrictions on hours of sale for on-license drinking, restrictions on types and amounts of alcohol permitted to be sold to individuals and whole population for on-licence consumption within specific periods.

(b)   strategies for reducing demand for alcohol; or
Note: Strategies for reducing demand for alcohol may include resources and measures for intervention, detoxification, and treatment of dependent drinkers as well as early intervention strategies and proactive and preventative measures such as dry concerts, Blue Light discos, sport and other youth diversion activities, health promotion and education (for example, on Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and the effects of alcohol abuse on children).
 
(c)    strategies to reduce harm.
 
Note: Strategies to reduce harm may include community patrols, adequate responses to violence and unsafe driving, family support, women’s shelters, and more support for people with alcohol abuse issues (for example, support groups and sobering-up facilities, and improved access to regional services and facilities).
4  Monitoring, reporting and evaluation

(1)     An alcohol management plan must include measurable outcomes and benchmarks to inform evaluation.
(2)     An alcohol management plan must describe how the ongoing progress and effectiveness of the identified strategies will be monitored and reported to the government and community residents in a manner that is understandable to community residents indicated in Item 1(3) of Minimum standard 1. 
(3)     An alcohol management plan must outline a process for ongoing review and amendment of the alcohol management plan.
(4)     An alcohol management plan must include a mechanism to deal with complaints and disputes.
Note: Government has a key role in providing support for evaluation of alcohol management plans including assisting communities with benchmarks and access to data.
5  Clear geographical boundaries
 
(1)     An alcohol management plan must show clearly all relevant geographical boundaries.
 
(2)     An alcohol management plan must explain how and why the geographical boundaries have been chosen.