Ms LANDRY (Capricornia) (11:42): I rise today to speak in favour of the Northern Territory Safe Measures Bill 2023 to be introduced in the Senate by Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price. When the Albanese government let the Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory Act 2012 lapse, alcohol supply and consumption became an opt-in model. The Northern Territory government has allowed communities to be opt in for alcohol provisions rather than the previous opt-out model. Committees were not required to have any alcohol management plans in place to support this change. This opt-in model has devastated the lives of those living in the Territory. It is left children, families and the broader community vulnerable to alcohol related violence. Since the Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory Act lifted, there has been a devastating increase in both consumption of alcohol and alcohol related crime. Northern Territory police statistics have shown that in Alice Springs alone property offences, assaults and stolen vehicles have jumped by 60 per cent, in the past 12 months, while domestic violence assaults have increased by 48 per cent. The poorly managed transition out of the stronger futures NT legislation has not just affected the larger towns like Alice Springs but also the small, remote communities and their households, schools and workplaces. It is heartbreaking to see children wandering the streets in the early hours of the morning because it's safer than being at home. Every single child must be protected from the horrors of the abuse, neglect and sexual violence that have become out of control. The people living in these communities are terrified of leaving their homes after dark, afraid of the violence that awaits them that is fuelled by alcohol. If the horrific crimes that we are witnessing were occurring in one of our capital cities, it would be consistent front-page news. Immediate action would be taken. What the Northern Territory communities received was a fly-in fly-out meeting from the Prime Minister that lasted four hours before he held a press conference. In fact, the tennis games that the Prime Minister indulged himself in for three days following his visit lasted longer than the time he spent in Alice Springs. Four hours is nowhere near long enough to address the severity and scale of the situation occurring in the Northern Territory. The people of Alice Springs deserve better than four hours and a photo opportunity. Senator Price had warned the government of the impact in letting the Stronger Futures Northern Territory act lapse, and now the people of the Northern Territory are paying for the lack of action by this government. Labor's accusation that— Honourable members interjecting— The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Mr Vasta ): Order! The member for Capricornia has the call and will be heard in silence. Ms LANDRY: the lapse of alcohol bans was caused by the coalition is simply outrageous. The fact of the matter is that the Stronger Futures Northern Territory legislation lapsed under the watch of the Albanese government, in July last year. Overnight, these communities began to spiral into the abyss of alcohol-fuelled violence and crime. The Labor government has let the people of Northern Territory communities down for far too long. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has had his head buried in the sand while alcohol has decimated the towns of the Northern Territory. The lives of the most vulnerable people in our society are a responsibility for all of us, which is why both the Australian and Northern Territory governments need to act now and need to act fast. A more robust and all-encompassing approach must be put into place to ensure the lives of the most at-risk people are kept safe. The Northern Territory Safe Measures Bill will reintroduce elements of the Stronger Futures Northern Territory act, while also ensuring that there is a legal framework to address alcohol abuse. It will also establish requirements for the Northern Territory Labor government to work with all communities to develop an alcohol management plan for a reinstated opt-out model. The Northern Territory government must take responsibility to support the development of alcohol management plans, while also working constructively with the Australian government. This bill will also ensure that the supply of alcohol is regulated and will mitigate the legal framework for the prosecution of illegal alcohol supply. Safe measures will also be established for those who do consume alcohol, their children, families and the broader community, while also ensuring that human rights are upheld for the most vulnerable citizens of Australia. There will be provision for equitable consultation of men and women in these vulnerable communities, not just to meet a quota, as well as a provision for a 12-month Senate committee to review and make an assessment of the effectiveness of the act in addressing the reduction of alcohol related crime and the development and implementation of alcohol management plans. Now is the time for action and change. The Prime Minister stated in last year's election that he was going to become Prime Minister and that he would not go missing when the going got tough or pose for photos and disappear when there was a job to be done. Prime Minister, there is a job to be done. You demonstrated last year you can recall parliament to pass legislation in a single day. The Northern Territory Safe Measures Bill 2023 needs to be legislated now.