It could be up to a week before a decision is made on whether Intervention-era alcohol bans are reinstated in central Australia in a bid to arrest a spike in crime and alcohol-fuelled violence.
Following a meeting with NT Chief Minister Natasha Fyles on Thursday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said both governments would discuss potential next steps with their respective cabinets next week.
The two leaders met in Canberra to discuss the report delivered to them on Wednesday by Central Australian Controller, Dorrelle Anderson.
The review, which has not been publicly released, was commissioned during the prime minister's trip to Alice Springs for crisis talks last week.
Parts of the report were leaked throughout the morning before the meeting, revealing it recommended both urgent legislation for alcohol restrictions and needs-based financial support for NT social services.
"The report will be released by the NT Government after cabinet consideration, confirming next steps," Mr Albanese wrote on Twitter on Thursday afternoon.
"Our governments will listen and respond with the action local communities want us to take."
The prime minister on Wednesday said he was open to immediate action if it was recommended in the report, while Ms Fyles has emphasised a wish to see a response to the crisis that goes beyond alcohol restrictions.
The report was to advise on whether change is needed to the system implemented by the NT government following the lapsing of blanket alcohol bans in July last year.
Aboriginal health organisations have argued the decision to require communities to opt-in to ongoing restrictions, rather than opt-out over a transition period, was dangerous and has caused serious harm.
In a statement issued after the meeting, Ms Fyles said the meeting had been "constructive".
"The report from the Office of the Central Australian Regional Controller will be considered by respective governments where next steps will be identified," she said.
"We will continue working together, listening to the local community and taking action in the best interests of all Territorians.
"We are not giving up on Alice Springs."
NT leaders pitch for greater remote investment
In a media blitz during their visit to Canberra, Ms Fyles and NT Attorney-General Chansey Paech again signalled reticence around any reinstatement of alcohol bans that only apply to Aboriginal communities.
Mr Paech told reporters any such legislation would have to comply with human rights obligations.
While the suspension of the Racial Discrimination Act enabled the introduction of the bans, the laws were reinstated and in place for most of the 15 years for which the bans applied.
But Ms Fyles said many communities and individuals told the government they did not want "race-based" measures applied ever again.
Asked about the joint statement signed by the NT's main Aboriginal services advocating for an opt-out transition, Ms Fyles said: "That's just one view."
"Indigenous people don't have one view across the Northern Territory," she said.
"I question why is no one asking the 18 or so communities that have opted in [to ongoing restrictions] who we to [by way of consultation]? Did we speak to the right leadership there?"
Mr Paech rejected the suggestion that the NT government had enabled an increase in violence and harm in Alice Springs through its actions.
"As a born-and-raised Central Australian, I have grown up knowing that this has been an issue and doing things to tackle it," he said.
"I just I completely disagree. The Northern Territory Government has absolutely thrown everything that we have the capacity to do to tackle these issues.
"What we're here today to do is to talk with the Commonwealth around how we can work together in a constructive relationship to see key investments into that region to address these issues."
Recent NT government data showed a 50 per cent spike in alcohol-related presentations in the Alice Springs emergency department since the lifting of long-term alcohol bans in the middle of last year.
The NT's peak body representing Aboriginal services has this week called on both governments to include it in a formal partnership to negotiate policy and funding for the NT going forward.
The NT government has not accepted the proposal. The federal government has not responded to a request for comment.
