ELEANOR HALL: Off Australia's far North coast, one Aboriginal community is claiming enormous progress in reducing alcohol-fuelled violence among its 3,000 people.

An alcohol permit system developed on remote Groote Eylandt has seen alcohol related crime has drop by up to 80 per cent.

Sarah Hawke reports from Groote Eylandt in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

(Sound of local dancers)

SARAH HAWKE: Local dancers on Groote Elylandt have rarely performed in public.

Yesterday they danced for a delegation of mainland visitors, also watching was the Chairman of the local Aboriginal Land Council.

Tony Wurramarrba says the mood amongst Aboriginal people compared to last year has improved significantly as a result of new alcohol restrictions.

The Chairman says the community had to address serious grog abuse problems.

TONY WURRAMARRBA: It had quite a horrendous impact on our communities. Or women were abused or bashed. Our young kids didn't attend school.

SARAH HAWKE: On the first of July last year the community introduced a new alcohol permit system which had taken three years to devise.

TONY WURRAMARRBA: Anyone who wants buy or consume alcohol must have a permit, and there are set areas where alcohol can be consumed.

SARAH HAWKE: There had been restrictions previously, but they were hard to police and alcohol was easily available in the mining town of Alyangula.

RICK PETERS: You would certainly have people coming to town and consuming alcohol and then going back and the dysfunction that happens with alcohol related issues within a community, particularly domestic violence, and so on.

SARAH HAWKE: Rick Peters is with the mining company Gemco, which along with traditional owners, police and other groups helped develop the system.

RICK PETERS: If I had a function in my house I would actually have to check that people have permits to consume otherwise my permit is at risk. So it puts the responsibility for permits back on the permit holders and the management of alcohol in your life is your responsibility.

SARAH HAWKE: Mr Peters says the Indigenous absentee rates at the manganese mine have fallen from eight and a half to about two per cent as a result of the permit system.

RICK PETERS: The thing that has been a barrier to Aboriginal employment has never been the actual work. It's been the social impacts of a different lifestyle. People actually have difficulty attending work if you're hung over.

It has changed the culture of Groote Eylandt. The liquor management plan is not an imposition here anymore. It is part of what we do.

SARAH HAWKE: One of the key features of the system is that it's easier to police and permits can be suspended.

Tony Wurramarrba says there was initial resistance to the tougher regime.

TONY WURRAMARRBA: We did find it very hard, but as time went by, people began to accept that alcohol is no good, I mean, excess alcohol is no good for the people.

SARAH HAWKE: Was the supply alcohol rife in the community before the permit system?

TONY WURRAMARRBA: Before the permit system, yes, it was rife.

SARAH HAWKE: Alcohol related crimes have fallen by between 50 and 80 per cent.

Local Aboriginal leaders say it will take time to see the full benefits in areas like health and education

But Ida Mamarika says the system is putting the community on the right track.

IDA MAMARIKA: Yeah, violence and stuff like that, like women got bashed up and kids were scattered around, but nowadays it's all right now.

SARAH HAWKE: The are alcohol restrictions in other communities, but Senior Sergeant Dean McMaster from Alyangula Police believes the success of the permit system on Groote is due to leadership and support in the community.

DEAN MCMASTER: What liquor management plan will work on Groote Eylandt may not work on the mainland, but I think that consultation process and communities realising that there's a need to manage liquor consumption and sale, it can work anywhere.

ELEANOR HALL: Senior Sargeant Dean McMaster ending that report from Sarah Hawke on Groote Eylandt.

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2006/s1657588.htm