Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia's (AHCWA) policy submission to the consultation draft National Alcohol Strategy 2018-2026 (draft strategy) was released in December 2017 by the Commonwealth Department of Health (Commonwealth).

This report provides an overview of the Council’s activities, key areas of advice provided to the government and engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for the period 13 February 2017 to 30 November 2017.

Australian governments have committed to work in genuine partnership with Indigenous leaders, organisations and communities, to identify the priorities that will inform how governments can better design and deliver programs and services, to close the gap.

This report recommends that the Australian government immediately replace the current CDP compliance and penalty regime with obligations that are no more onerous than those of other income support recipients.

Remote communities offer unique challenges that mean mainstream employment and participation solutions have historically fallen short of community expectations. Remote communities feature weaker labour markets, geographic dispersion, language and cultural differences and service delivery challenges. Furthermore, Government payments are the main source of income in many communities.