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Northern Territory mandatory alcohol rehabilitation scheme to be reviewed Northern Territory mandatory alcohol rehabilitation scheme to be reviewed
(about 2 hours later)
The Northern Territory’s policy of mandatory rehabilitation for problem drinkers will go under review, the health minister confirmed on Tuesday, but there was some confusion about who would do it.The Northern Territory’s policy of mandatory rehabilitation for problem drinkers will go under review, the health minister confirmed on Tuesday, but there was some confusion about who would do it.
The announcement follows a coroner’s inquest into the death of a 46-year-old woman undergoing enforced rehabilitation in Alice Springs last year.The announcement follows a coroner’s inquest into the death of a 46-year-old woman undergoing enforced rehabilitation in Alice Springs last year.
Health minister John Elferink said on Tuesday morning his department would carry out a review by the end of the year, but later clarified the department would manage a procurement process to find an external evaluator by tender.Health minister John Elferink said on Tuesday morning his department would carry out a review by the end of the year, but later clarified the department would manage a procurement process to find an external evaluator by tender.
Elferink told Guardian Australia the government had always intended to review the service aspects of the policy “once the service had been in operation for a reasonable time period and had sufficient client numbers.”
“The broad parameters of the evaluation are principally to address the extent to which the Objects of the program, as set down in the AMT Act, have been met,” he said in a statement.
Elferink said it’s expected a reviewer will be appointed by mid September, and a timeline for the review set. “Elements of the report which do not contain personal or identifying information could be released,” he said.
The scheme, which is part of a suite of controversial alcohol policies in the NT, orders anyone who is picked up by police three times in two months for being drunk to undergo treatment for a three month period of detention.The scheme, which is part of a suite of controversial alcohol policies in the NT, orders anyone who is picked up by police three times in two months for being drunk to undergo treatment for a three month period of detention.
Related: NT woman dies at unit for mandatory alcoholism treatmentRelated: NT woman dies at unit for mandatory alcoholism treatment
It has been the subject of criticism by legal experts over issues of transparency, including around incidents of escape, and unfair targeting of Aboriginal people. Health experts earlier this month said the $27m policy had “little evidence” to justify it and involved the “dubious” application of medical intervention.It has been the subject of criticism by legal experts over issues of transparency, including around incidents of escape, and unfair targeting of Aboriginal people. Health experts earlier this month said the $27m policy had “little evidence” to justify it and involved the “dubious” application of medical intervention.
Labor spokeswoman for health, Lynne Walker, on Tuesday called for a guarantee the review be entirely independent of government, and that the final report be made public.Labor spokeswoman for health, Lynne Walker, on Tuesday called for a guarantee the review be entirely independent of government, and that the final report be made public.
“We certainly welcome this review, it is something we have called for, as have medical experts for some time,” Walker told media.“We certainly welcome this review, it is something we have called for, as have medical experts for some time,” Walker told media.
“We know that alcohol is probably the single biggest issue the Northern Territory is dealing with and unless we have a report and a review that is independent and at arm’s length from the government we won’t have that assurance that it provides us with robust data, and robust recommendations.”“We know that alcohol is probably the single biggest issue the Northern Territory is dealing with and unless we have a report and a review that is independent and at arm’s length from the government we won’t have that assurance that it provides us with robust data, and robust recommendations.”
Walker said terms of reference were yet to be seen, but called for bipartisan contribution to them. She suggested the terms of reference look at cost effectiveness including the assessment of patients at regular intervals, the quality of care and follow up within the system and the adequacy of data collection.”Walker said terms of reference were yet to be seen, but called for bipartisan contribution to them. She suggested the terms of reference look at cost effectiveness including the assessment of patients at regular intervals, the quality of care and follow up within the system and the adequacy of data collection.”
“In the two years it’s been in place there has been no open and transparent reporting, there has been very limited quarterly reporting of data,” said Walker.“In the two years it’s been in place there has been no open and transparent reporting, there has been very limited quarterly reporting of data,” said Walker.
“What the AMT reporting doesn’t do is tell us whether or not there is a cost-benefit analysis for the money that is spent and - just as importantly – what do we know about how many people who have passed through the system, how many have had to return to the system, what are the outcomes for people at the end of three months, six months, 12 months after mandatory treatment?”“What the AMT reporting doesn’t do is tell us whether or not there is a cost-benefit analysis for the money that is spent and - just as importantly – what do we know about how many people who have passed through the system, how many have had to return to the system, what are the outcomes for people at the end of three months, six months, 12 months after mandatory treatment?”
The policy of alcohol mandatory treatment (AMT) has been under scrutiny at a coronial inquest into the death of a woman at an Alice Springs facility.The policy of alcohol mandatory treatment (AMT) has been under scrutiny at a coronial inquest into the death of a woman at an Alice Springs facility.
The 46-year-old Aboriginal woman, Kwementyaye Brown, died in October at the Central Australian Aboriginal alcohol programmes unit (CAAAPU).The 46-year-old Aboriginal woman, Kwementyaye Brown, died in October at the Central Australian Aboriginal alcohol programmes unit (CAAAPU).
A coroner’s inquest heard she was never given any extensive physical examination by a doctor when she was taken into custody, despite being severely underweight and suffering numerous chronic illnesses, the ABC reported.A coroner’s inquest heard she was never given any extensive physical examination by a doctor when she was taken into custody, despite being severely underweight and suffering numerous chronic illnesses, the ABC reported.
Coroner Greg Cavanagh described the policy as a “novel regime” which “impacts entirely on Aboriginal people.”Coroner Greg Cavanagh described the policy as a “novel regime” which “impacts entirely on Aboriginal people.”
“My view is if you are going to take away rights such as liberty ... and detain someone against their will for three months, then the measure of success ... is whether people are truly rehabilitated when they get back to their community,” Cavanagh said.“My view is if you are going to take away rights such as liberty ... and detain someone against their will for three months, then the measure of success ... is whether people are truly rehabilitated when they get back to their community,” Cavanagh said.
“If it’s not successful in this way, then it’s merely to take them away from public view and that’s not good enough.”“If it’s not successful in this way, then it’s merely to take them away from public view and that’s not good enough.”
Caapu’s onsite doctor, Derek Chong, said he was not given access to medical histories of people who were brought in for treatment. The facility kept progress reports on Brown, but did not take down basic medical information like blood pressure or pulse, the ABC reported.Caapu’s onsite doctor, Derek Chong, said he was not given access to medical histories of people who were brought in for treatment. The facility kept progress reports on Brown, but did not take down basic medical information like blood pressure or pulse, the ABC reported.