This article discusses the Federal Government’s intervention into the Northern Territory Aboriginal communities in the context of public policy regulating the supply and consumption of alcohol in Indigenous contexts. Alcohol policies have been enhanced in recent years by a broad international base of practical experience and an extensive and increasingly sophisticated research output. Research commissioned by the World Health Organisation from wide ranging international evidence has distilled six policies that show measurable impact in decreasing alcohol-related harm. The author suggests that these WHO endorsed policies, which have become the guiding texts for those concerned with good public policy, have not been addressed by the Emergency Intervention.

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