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Dear Chief Minister the Hon Lia Finocchiaro,
We are writing to urge you to put the health, wellbeing and safety of Territorians first, by keeping in place measures that work to reduce harms from alcohol.
Alcohol causes a great deal of harm to far too many Territorians. Measures that control the availability and accessibility of alcohol, like the Minimum Unit Price and reduced trading hours for alcohol outlets have proven to reduce harm, which has been proven to save lives.
As leaders of health, community, Aboriginal and research organisations, we see the impact of effective alcohol policies in keeping our communities safe, and we strongly oppose any moves to remove these policies.
If these policies are removed or relaxed, we know we will see increases in violence against women and children, more people hospitalised because of chronic diseases and more deaths.
Please engage with us, listen to us and consult with communities who experience firsthand the impact of alcohol on our families.
We know all too well what happens when decisions are quickly made without community engagement and consideration of the evidence.
As you know from July 2022 to early 2023, restricted area legislative provisions were allowed to lapse across the Northern Territory despite warnings from community leaders of the increased harm that this would cause, and the result was a very significant increase in violence and other harm, especially to women.
At the recent National Cabinet meeting, alongside the Prime Minister and all First Ministers you acknowledged the role of alcohol in exacerbating violence against women and children and committed to reviewing alcohol laws and their impact on victim-survivors of family violence.
Your government’s consideration of the removal of Minimum Unit Pricing will not make women and children in the Northern Territory safer. It will increase violence and harm. Any increase in trading hours will have a similar effect.
We urge you to abandon any plans to remove or relax these policies, and to prioritise the health, wellbeing and safety of families and communities.
Signed,
Dr Donna Ah Chee
Chief Executive Officer
Central Australian Aboriginal Congress
Dr John Paterson
Chief Executive Officer
Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory (AMSANT)
Rob McPhee
Chief Executive Officer
Danila Dilba Health Service
Dr Leisa McCarthy
Chief Executive Officer
Anyinginyi Health Aboriginal Corporation
Dr John Boffa
Adjunct Professor
People’s Alcohol Action Coalition (PAAC) Alice Springs NT
Stephanie Holmes
Executive Officer
Association of Alcohol and Other Drug Agencies Northern Territory (AADANT)
Jock MacGregor
Acting Chief Executive Officer
BushMob Aboriginal Corporation
Darryl Coulstock
Chief Executive Officer
Ampilatwatja Health Centre Aboriginal Corporation
Michael Rotumah
Chief Executive Officer
Larrakia Nation
Dr Christine Watson BMED MPH RACGP RANZCP (Add Psych) FAChAM
Director of Addiction Medical Services
Darwin, NT
Sarah Clifford
Future Leader Fellow
Menzies School of Health Research
Dira Horne
Chief Executive Officer
Mental Health Association Central Australia
Andrea Andrews
Family Support Team Leader
Banatjarl Strongbala Wimun Grup Jawoyn Association Aboriginal Corporation
Mark Smith
Executive Director
MusicNT
Prof James Smith
Deputy Dean Rural and Remote Health NT
Flinders University
Dr Helen Parkes
Doctor
Darwin, NT
Prof Bart Currie
Professor in Medicine
Darwin, NT
Dr Eleanor Hobbs
Doctor
Darwin, NT
Dr Bernard Westley
General Practitioner
Australian Medical Association NT Council
Leigh Hill
Clinical Nurse Manager
Darwin, NT
Dr Alexandra Kay
Resident Medical Officer
Darwin, NT
Samuel Riley
Resident Medical Officer
Darwin, NT
Dr Paul Secombe
Intensive Care Specialist
Alice Springs, NT
Dr Dan Wilson
Addiction Medicine Specialist
Darwin, NT
Resy van Beek
Senior Staff Specialist ICU
Darwin, NT
Dr Mark de Souza
Senior Emergency Physician
Darwin, NT
Dr Jacob Koshy
Senior Specialist Consultant
Alice Springs, NT
Dr Mini Jacob
Hospital Medical Officer
Alice Springs, NT
Dr Daniel Adams
Head of Department – Retrieval Medicine
Darwin, NT
Dr Lewis Campbell
Intensivist
Darwin, NT
Sophie Pascoe
Senior Research Officer
Menzies School of Health Research
Grace Nelson
Registered Nurse
Darwin, NT
Dr David Fernandes
Director of Renal Medicine Central Australia
Alice Springs, NT
Dr Thomas Young
Rural Generalist Registrar
Alice Springs, NT
Dr Alex Martin
Doctor
Darwin, NT
Dr Wan Julianna Alysha
Doctor
Darwin, NT
Dr Ben Dunton
Doctor
Alice Springs, NT
Dr Liam Byrne
Doctor
Alice Springs, NT
Dr Stephen Gourley
President
Australasian College for Emergency Medicine
Jennifer Harland
President
Drug and Alcohol Nurses of Australasia
Sarah Riley-Smith
Teacher
Darwin, NT
Dr Thomas Fowles
President
Australian Salaried Medical Officers’ Federation NT Branch
Lucie Burnod
Dietitian
Darwin, NT
Dr Andrew Szabo
Doctor
Darwin, NT
Dr Stefanie Pender
General Practitioner
Darwin, NT
Phyllis Gorey
Rural General Practitioner Registrar
Darwin, NT
Dr Christopher Muirhead
GP Anaesthetist
Katherine, NT
Dr Erica Musgrove
Doctor
Alice Springs, NT
Zoe Fisher
Nurse Practitioner
NT Alcohol and Other Drugs
Dr Ashok Elangovan
Intensive Care Staff Specialist
Alice Springs, NT
Genevieve Grieves
Director
GARUWA
Prof Terry Slevin
Chief Executive Officer
Public Health Association Australia
A/Prof Eddie Cubillo
Academic
University of Melbourne
Prof Thalia Anthony
Professor of Law
University of Technology Sydney
A/Prof Linda Steele
Associate Professor
University of Technology Sydney
A/Prof Kristen Smith
Associate Professor
University of Melbourne
Paul Hausia
Indigenous Engagement Coordinator of the Indigenous Law & Justice Hub at Melbourne Law School
University of Melbourne
Cassandra Seery
Legal Research Advisor
Melbourne Law School
Johanna Commins
Lecturer
Melbourne Law School
Prof Simone Pettigrew
Director of Health Promotion
The George Institute for Global Health
Paula Binks
Co-Deputy Lead Viral Hepatitis Program
Menzies School of Health Research
Prof Peter S Morris
Professor
Menzies School of Health Research
Karen McLean
Senior Policy and Governance Advisor
Menzies School of Health Research
Dr Deborah Russell
Principal Research Fellow, Remote Health Systems and Climate Change
Menzies School of Rural Health
Rachael Ball
Research Nurse
Menzies School of Health Research
A/Prof Bea Staley
Adjunct Associate Professor
Charles Darwin University
Katelyn Brown
Biostatistician
The University of Melbourne
Dr Leonard Freeman
Lecturer in Education
Charles Darwin University
Tara Dias
Senior Research Officer
Menzies School of Health Research
Dr Bryce Brickley
Research Fellow in Men’s Health
Flinders University
A/Prof Gillian Gorham
Lead of the Wellbeing and Preventable Chronic Disease Division
Menzies School of Health Research
Dr Suzanne Nielsen
Deputy Director
Addiction Research Centre of Monash University
Angie Everitt
Senior Clinical Community Nurse
Menzies School of Health Research
Eloise Page
Chief Executive Officer
Drug and Alcohol Services Australia
Dr Craig Rodgers
Addiction Medicine Specialist
Australasian Professional Society of Alcohol and Other Drugs
Dr Anna Marie Plant
Doctor
Tasmanian Health Service
Kate Pollard
Case Coordinator
Melaleuca Therapies
Natasha Freeman
Project Officer
Menzies School of Health Research
Sally Balfour
Musician
Sally Balfour Music
Dr Jack Wilson
Postdoctoral Researcher
The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use
Sonja Pohlman
Alcohol and Other Drug Supervisor and Clinical Psychologist
Hunter Primary Care and University of Newcastle
Dr Thileepan Naren
Addiction Medicine Specialist
Western Health
Dr Zoe Walter
Lecturer in Health Psychology
The University of Queensland
Dr Noel Plumley
Addiction Medicine Specialist
Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Service
Genevieve Sinclair
Chief Executive Officer
Youth Empowered Towards Independence (YETI)
Sue Anderson
Clinical Nurse Consultant
Redfern Harm Reduction Program, Sydney Local Health District
Prof Jason Ferris
Program Lead Global Substance Use and Mental Health
The University of Queensland
Rolf Reed
Psychologist and Family Therapist
Blue Mountains Psychotherapy Clinic
Dr Robert Ali AO
Senior Research Fellow
The University of Adelaide
Michael White
Executive Officer
South Australian Network of Drug and Alcohol Services (Inc)
Dr Michael Curtis
Research Associate
National Drug Research Institute of Curtin University
Prof Jacqueline Bowden
Director
National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction
Lesley Thawley
Alcohol and Other Drugs Registered Nurse
Mid North Coast Local Health District
Dan Anderson-Luxford
Research Officer
Centre for Alcohol Policy Research of La Trobe University
Dr Leah Ginnivan
Doctor
Remote Health
Dr Tianze Sun
Research Fellow
The National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research
Prof Paul Haber
Professor, University of Sydney and Clinical Director, Drug Health Services, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Sydney
Sydney Local Health District
Dr Samantha Green
General Practitioner
Cohealth
Wilsen Brincat
Dual Diagnosis Nurse
QHealth
Dr Nicole Lee
Chief Executive Officer
360Edge and Hello Sunday Morning
Dr Dean Membrey
Addiction Medicine Specialist
Cohealth
Dr Sarah MacLean
Professor
La Trobe University
Dr Sze Yen Tay
Medical Specialist
Darwin, NT
Prof Brett Emmerson AM
Chair
Queensland Branch of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists
Kimberlee Fenner
Registered Nurse
Darwin, NT
A/Prof Debbie Scott
President
Australasian Injury Prevention Network
Jen Costello
Pharmacotherapy Network Area Lead
Cohealth
Dr Tina Lam
Senior Research Fellow
Monash Addiction Research Centre
Caterina Giorgi
Chief Executive Officer
Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE)
Dr Kirsten Neal
Endocrinologist and General and Acute Care Medicine Physician, Acting Chair of Royal Australasian College of Physicians NT Committee
Alice Springs, NT and Royal Australasian College of Physicians NT Committee
Melissa Hinson
Chief Executive Officer
Urapuntja Health Service
Darrell Brock
Chief Executive Officer
Amity Community Service Inc.
A/Prof Robert Parker
President
Australian Medical Association Northern Territory Inc.
Martin Reilly
Acting Chief Executive Officer
NT Mental Health Coalition
Dr Mary Frost
Clinical Director
Central Australian Region Mental Health Alcohol and Other drugs
Sally Sievers
Chief Executive Officer
The Northern Territory Council of Social Service
Dr Cassandra Wright
Program Lead of Alcohol and other Drugs and Senior Research Fellow
Menzies School of Health Research
Dr Jayantha Senaratne
Head of Surgery
Alice Springs, NT
Dr Sonja Janson
General Medicine Physician
Darwin, NT
Dr Anna Holwell
Senior Specialist Consultant
Alice Springs, NT
Hannah Dickinson
Patient Transport Officer
Darwin, NT
Jane Anderson
Registered Nurse
Darwin NT
Dr Annie Girdwood
Doctor
Darwin, NT
Megan Adcock
Remote Area Nurse
Darwin, NT
Dr Natasha Kotsimbos
Doctor
Alice Springs, NT
Leigh Elton
Registered Emergency Nurse
Darwin, NT
Elise Edwards
Disability Project Officer
Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Women’s Council
Penny Stewart
Board Member and Chair of Indigenous Committee
College of Intensive Care Medicine
Dr Erin Lalor AM
Chief Executive Officer
Alcohol and Drug Foundation
Dr Sajith Nayar
Physician
Alice Springs, NT
Dr Scott Simpson
ICU Specialist
Alice Springs, NT
Dr Gabriella Catanzariti
Doctor
Darwin, NT
Madison Ludwig
Registered Nurse
Darwin, NT
Dr Nisangi Wijesinghe
Doctor
Darwin, NT
Natalia Canon-Duenas
Registered Medical Officer
Darwin, NT
Dr Louis Monaghan
Doctor
Alice Springs, NT
Dr Jessie Lu
Doctor
Darwin, NT
Dr Maud Mussared
Doctor
Darwin NT
Dr Eamon O’Bryan
Doctor
Darwin, NT
Eliah Aoina
Anthropologist
Northern Land Council
Dr Brad Treloar
Director of the Intensive Care Unit
Alice Springs, NT
Katrina Doody
Student Admin Officer
Darwin, NT
Emma Anderson
Occupational Therapist
Darwin, NT
Dr Lara Clegg
Doctor
Darwin, NT
Dr Kate Postans
Doctor
Wurli Wurlinjang Health Service
Anna Philip
Project Lead
Darwin, NT
Dr Jane Karmouche
General Practitioner
Danila Dilba Health Service
Dr Dayna Duncan
Medical Registrar
Darwin, NT
Prof Robin Room
Professor
Centre for Alcohol Policy Research at La Trobe University
Dr Ben Jacka
Emergency Doctor
Darwin, NT
Shane Varcoe
Executive Director
Dalgarno Institute
Dr Hoang Phan
Data Manager and Senior Research Officer
Menzies School of Health Research
Dr Kayli Wild
Principal Research Fellow
Menzies School of Health Research
Ruth Outridge
Higher Degree Research Student on Domestic and Family Violence
Menzies School of Health Research
Dr Michelle Fitts
Senior Research Fellow
Menzies School of Health Research
Dr Nic Taylor
Research Fellow
National Drug Research Institute
Sandy Lukjanowski
Chief Executive Officer
Injury Matters
Dr Beau Jayde Cubillo
First Nations Senior Research Fellow
Menzies School of Health Research
Dr Josh Cubillo
Associate Director
University of Melbourne
Rebecca Reagan
Project Manager
Menzies School of Health Research
A/Prof Marita Hefler
Associate Professor
Menzies School of Health Research
Dr Matthew Hare
Physician and Researcher
Menzies School of Health Research
Dr Chris Lowbridge
Senior Research Fellow
Menzies School of Health Research
Dr Shawn Ting
Senior Research Fellow
Menzies School of Health Research
Dr Deborah Hall
Business Manager
Menzies School of Health Research
Prof Anna Ralph
Deputy Director for Research
Menzies School of Health Research
Dr Joanne Howes
Clinical Trial Coordinator
Menzies School of Health Research
Warwick Padgham
Manager of Indigenous Student Programs
University of Melbourne
Jayde Hopkins
Project Officer
Menzies School of Health Research
Katherine Hancock
Learning and Development Partner
Menzies School of Health Research
Dylan Asafo
PhD Candidate
University of Melbourne
Catherine Martel
Program Manager
Menzies School of Health Research
Maddison Sims
Project Manager
Menzies School of Health Research
Vincent He
Honorary Research Fellow
Menzies School of Health Research
Prof Jennifer Martin
President
The Royal Australasian College of Physicians
Dr Peter d’Abbs
Honorary Fellow
Menzies School of Health Research
Alison Simmonds
Health Research Officer
Menzies School of Health Research
A/Prof Renae Kirkham
Principal Research Fellow
Menzies School of Health Research
Ally Giustino
Project Coordinator
Menzies School of Health Research
Prof Anna Peeters
Director
Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University
Dr Antony Bolton
Addiction Medicine Consultant
Self-Employed
Sophie Bourchier
Project Manager
Substance Misuse Limestone Coast
A/Prof Michael Livingston
Associate Professor
National Drug Research Institute
Stavroula Zandes
Director and Senior Trainer
Health & Wellbeing Training Consultants
Dr Cheneal Puljevic
Senior Research Fellow
School of Public Health, The University of Queensland
Olivia Price
Senior Research Officer
National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre
Dr Stephen Brady
Physician
Alice Springs, NT
A/Prof Mark Daglish
Addiction Psychiatrist
Self Employed
Nicole Hewlett
Project Manager
The University of Queensland
Dr Paul Maccartney
Addiction Medicine Specialist
Cohealth
Dr Rachel Humeniuk
Psychologist and Addiction Researcher
Alcohol and Other Drugs Psychology
Philip Blunt
Chief Executive Officer
Banyan House
Dr Carmen Lim
National Health and Medical Research Council Emerging Leadership Fellow
The University of Queensland
Dr Jacinta Johnson
Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy
The University of South Australia
Prof Leanne Hides
Professor of Clinical Psychology
The University of Queensland
Sarah Stanwix
Occupational Therapist
SA Health
Amber Rules
Clinical Director
Sydney Addictions Recovery
Kali Chandrasena
Researcher
National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre
Prof Kate Conigrave
Professor
The University of Sydney
Dr Melissa Jackson
Clinical Research Coordinator
Hunter New England Local Health District
Prof Amanda Baker
Adjunct Professor
National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre of UNSW
Paul Woodward
Alcohol and Other Drug Counsellor
Anglicare Southern Queensland
John Gobeil
Chief Executive Officer
Australian Injecting and Illicit Drug Users League
Dr Kylie Lee
Professor of Public Health
Centre for Alcohol Policy Research at La Trobe University
Prof Paul Dietze
Program Director for Disease Elimination
Burnet Institute
Carolyn Alkemade
Aboriginal Health Unit Care Coordinator
Bairnsdale Regional Health Service
A/Prof Mike Christmass
Addiction Medicine Specialist
Next Step Community Alcohol and Drug Service
Dr Wendy Lawrance
Addiction Medicine Specialist
Next Step Community Alcohol and Drug Service WA
Dr Rose Crossin
Senior Lecturer of Public Health
University of Otago
Sharon Zhang
Academic
Deakin University
Dr Noel Plumley
Addiction Medicine Specialist
Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Service
Melinda Lake
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Australian Recovery Centres
Odette Mazel
Senior Research Fellow
The University of Melbourne
Dr Jennifer Barton
Emergency Department Registrar
Darwin, NT
Scott Wilson
Chief Executive Officer
Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Council SA
Dr Dana Fitzsimmons
General Practitioner
Darwin, NT
Dr David Jacka
Addiction Medicine Unit Director
Monash Health
Will you join the community taking action on alcohol?
FARE acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands and waters on which we operate throughout Australia. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and recognise the continuing connection to country of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
©2024 FARE
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FARE acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands and waters on which we operate throughout Australia. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and recognise the continuing connection to country of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
©2024 FARE
Privacy Statement
T&C
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