Northern Territory communities struggling with spiking crime after mandatory alcohol bans lapsed are likely to return to being dry.

A report sparked by a crime spree in Alice Springs has been handed to the federal and territory governments and is set to be discussed in Canberra on Thursday.

Multiple media outlets are reporting it recommends the territory legislate alcohol restrictions while communities take the time to come up with alcohol management plans before they can choose to opt out of the bans.

NT chief minister Natasha Fyles blamed the former federal coalition government for its heavy-handed action against Indigenous communities, including blanket alcohol bans.

“Communities have said to us, ‘we don’t want to opt-in (to alcohol bans). We’re sick of alcohol being a race-based issue’,” she told reporters in Canberra ahead of a meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

“We put in place legislation that did provide that ability for dry communities to continue – a number of communities reverted to being dry.”

Eminent Indigenous advocate and Alyawarre woman from the NT Pat Anderson said governments needed to listen to the people.

“We have to try to get governments of the day to listen to Aboriginal people on the ground, what their needs and priorities are,” she told ABC Radio.

“It’s still happening. This is a really good example that hasn’t happened.

“Generations of us have been talking to successive governments and nobody hears us.”

Alice Springs mayor Matt Paterson said alcohol bans shouldn’t be a permanent fixture but were a welcome first step.

“I want to be clear that I’m not suggesting that it be forever and so I’m glad to see that (the report) does quote the alcohol management plans,” he told Sky News.

“It’s a step in the right direction for central Australia because it keeps saying it is about the kids and the women and they’re the ones that are suffering the most here.”

Opposition frontbencher Karen Andrews said action needed to be taken quickly to help solve the crisis facing Alice Springs and NT town camps.

“We do know that there has been a significant uptick in issues once alcohol bans were lifted,” she told Sky News.

Ms Andrews said more police on the ground needed to be considered by the federal government.

“The Albanese government is fairly and squarely accountable for the issues that are arising now. They have sat on their hands for months,” she said.

“This is now happening on their watch. They need to take some fairly urgent action. They need to listen to the community.”

– AAP

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