This Act contains a number of measures aimed at building stronger futures for Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory.

Part 2--Tackling alcohol abuse

The measures in Part 2 are aimed at reducing alcohol-related harm to those Aboriginal people. Many of the measures apply in alcohol protected areas (which are particular areas of the Northern Territory that are prescribed by the rules (see section 27)).

Some of the measures in Part 2 modify the NT Liquor Act, and licences and permits issued under that Act, so that they apply in alcohol protected areas in a particular way. For example, section 8 inserts a number of offences (such as the offence for consuming liquor in an alcohol protected area) into the NT Liquor Act.

Part 2 allows the Minister to request the NT Minister to appoint an assessor to conduct an assessment of particular licensed premises in the Northern Territory if the Minister reasonably believes that the sale or consumption of liquor at or from those premises is causing substantial alcohol-related harm to the community (see section 15).

Part 2 also deals with alcohol management plans and provides a process for the approval of those plans by the Minister (see Division 6 of that Part).

Part 3--Land reform

Part 3 contains measures relating to town camps and community living areas. Those measures are aimed at facilitating the granting of rights and interests, and promoting economic development, in those camps and areas. Those measures allow regulations to be made to modify particular laws of the Northern Territory to the extent that those laws apply to town camps or community living areas.

Part 4--Food security

Part 4 provides for a licensing regime for certain community stores operating in the food security area (which is the whole of the Northern Territory other than an area that is prescribed by the rules (see section 74)). That regime is aimed at promoting food security for Aboriginal communities.

The Secretary may determine, at any time, whether the owner of a community store is required to hold a community store licence. If the Secretary determines that the owner is required to hold a licence, then the store will be prohibited from operating in the food security area unless the owner obtains the licence. The Secretary cannot determine that the owner is required to hold a licence unless the Secretary is satisfied that the store is an important source of food, drink or grocery items for an Aboriginal community.

If the Secretary grants a licence, the Secretary may impose conditions on the licence. The owner will be required to comply with those conditions, plus the conditions that are imposed by Part 4 and the rules.

Part 5--Other matters

Part 5 has a number of miscellaneous provisions. It requires the Minister to cause an independent review to be conducted of the first 3 years of the operation of this Act (see section 117). It provides that this Act sunsets 10 years after commencement (see section 118). It also has other miscellaneous provisions (such as the power to delegate, the power to make rules and the power to make regulations).