Macklin under fire for focus on Red Centre pubs

The Northern Territory Government says a request from the Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin to assess how some hotels are operating at Alice Springs is "inappropriate".

Ms Macklin has written to Chief Minister Terry Mills asking for an assessor to review some premises that serve alcohol in the town.

She says she is concerned that some businesses are contributing to alcohol-related harm among Aboriginal people.

Territory Business Minister Peter Chandler says he does not think an assessment is necessary.

"I really do question the information that Jenny Macklin is using to form her opinion," he said.

"I have specifically asked for a meeting with Jenny Macklin.

"I want to sit down and see the information that she's reading off, because it's quite different to the stats that we have."

Mr Chandler says most Territorians do not like it when Canberra steps in and tells them how to do things.

"If the Federal Government wants to assist at all, they could help us with resources to quick-fire those (CLP) policies."

Dianne Loechel is proprietor of the Gapview Hotel and says licensees are being unfairly targeted.

"Jennifer Macklin has done a lot of good things to try and help Indigenous people in our region," she said.

"But is she going to repeal the dry town legislation?

"Is she going to repeal the fact that people in town camps are not permitted to drink any more in their own homes, even if they are paying rent?

"Is she going to decriminalise all these situations that she has put Indigenous people into?"

Source: ABC News, 7 February 2013