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The Indigenous Australians minister has promised that tough new restrictions on takeaway alcohol sales are just the beginning of measures to combat surging youth crime in Alice Springs.

Linda Burney said the prime minister's meeting with territory leaders on Tuesday afternoon made important progress in strategies to curb anti-social behaviour.

"This is the beginning of the response, not the end," she told ABC Radio on Wednesday.

Ms Burney believed a successful referendum to establish an Indigenous voice to parliament would help communities, particularly in the Northern Territory, in the long-term.

"If the voice to parliament had been established previously, I don't think we would be where we are ... because we would have been getting practical advice from people representative of the community in relation to these social issues," she said.

"It is wrong to think that the issue out here is just alcohol. There has been neglect for 10 years of small communities surrounding Alice Springs.

"This is not something we walked into yesterday, this has been something we've been working with and dealing with for a very long time."

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NT Chief Minister Natasha Files have announced a three-month ban on the sale of takeaway alcohol in the region on Mondays and Tuesdays and reduced trading hours on other days, with a limit of one purchase per person each day.

Deputy Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said the government had ignored community leaders and called for tougher restrictions.

"Governments have to respond to the situations they face and this government has not responded sufficiently or strongly enough," she told reporters in Canberra.

Meanwhile, a long-term central Australian alcohol management plan will be developed to deal with the "complex issues" in the region, which include alcohol fuelled violence, unemployment and youth on the streets.

A central Australian regional controller was appointed to ensure all levels of government are working together to deliver services to the community.

The controller, Dorrelle Anderson, will also review opt-in alcohol restrictions, that replaced expired Intervention-inspired liquor bans last year, and consider if opt-out bans should be implemented.

Northern Territory senator Malarndirri McCarthy said she had "cautious optimism" about the impact of the measures.

"Over the next three to six months, it is absolutely critical that the people of Alice Springs see the change and feel the change and believe in the change," she told Nine's Today Show.

Mr Albanese promised to spend millions of extra dollars to bolster security, including better street lighting, provide emergency accommodation for domestic violence victims and continue community services in Alice Springs and the region.

© AAP 2023

From community heroes to passionate advocates and Indigenous leaders, finalists from across the country have gathered in Canberra for this year's Australian of the Year awards.

The 32 finalists across four categories have converged on the national capital for a series of events leading up to Wednesday night's awards ceremony.

Among them will be a breakfast to honour the work of Indigenous finalists, as well as a lunch at the National Gallery of Australia.

The group of finalists will also meet with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the Lodge for a morning tea, the same event in 2022 where images were captured of former winner Grace Tame side-eyeing Scott Morrison.

This year's Australian of the Year finalists include human rights activist Craig Foster, migrant leader John Kamara, Indigenous musician William Barton, insect farming pioneer Olympia Yarger, documentary maker Taryn Brumfitt, Land Council chair Samuel Bush-Blanasi, paediatrician Angraj Khillan and end-of-life care advocate Samar Aoun.

This year's awards also marks the 20th anniversary of the inclusion of the Local Hero award, which recognises the work of community leaders across the country.

Among them is Victorian finalist Belinda Hill, who is the founder of Mums of the Hills, an organisation that helps connect mothers in the Yarra and Dandenong ranges region.

"We founded it to make sure that there is proper connection for mums throughout their entire journey as a mother, either being pregnant, right through to being grandparents," she told AAP.

"We also provide opportunities to respond, to prepare and recover from natural disasters."

Local Hero nominee from WA James Murphy started up the Town Team Movement as a way to help inspire people to improve their communities.

Since it was set up, the movement now has more than 110 teams helping to foster connections within local areas, such as street festivals, working bees and food co-ops.

"People are becoming a lot more cognisant of the importance of being connected with with others," he said.

"Any sort of local network that you can tap into in your local community is of benefit to a better life overall."

The Northern Territory's Young Australian of the Year finalist Jahadi Vigona has been recognised for his role as an Indigenous community leader.

Among his many endeavours, the Tiwi Islands man helps to run mental health education program within schools in the NT.

"It makes me really proud actually, just to know that there's so many like-minded people like myself who are wanting to help the world around them and make an impact and change it for the better," he said.

"I also advocate for young people to have opportunities, to make sure that they look after their health and making sure that those opportunities have been supported in the NT."

© AAP 2023

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has celebrated the diversity of passions, backgrounds and achievements among the nominees for the Australian of the Year awards.

From community heroes to advocates and Indigenous leaders, finalists from across the country gathered in Canberra ahead of an awards ceremony on Wednesday night.

Mr Albanese met the 32 finalists during morning tea at The Lodge.

"You are a vivid snapshot of the greatness of our modern nation," the prime minister said.

"For all the variety of your endeavours, you are united by a common determination to use your talents to work for the good of others.

"Every one of you would be a worthy winner because you are, already, great Australians."

The prime minister also thanked the 2022 Australians of the Year Dylan Alcott, Valmai Dempsey, Daniel Nour and Shanna Whan for their service.

He said they had set a high bar for the 2023 winners and he hoped to continue working with them in the future.

"(Australian of the Year awards are) an honour and a challenge. A reward and a responsibility," Mr Albanese said.

"It's to your eternal credit that each of you answered that call with such passion and enthusiasm and endless good humour."

The 2023 finalists include human rights activist Craig Foster, migrant leader John Kamara, Indigenous musician William Barton, insect farming pioneer Olympia Yarger, documentary maker Taryn Brumfitt, land council chair Samuel Bush-Blanasi, paediatrician Angraj Khillan and end-of-life care advocate Samar Aoun.

This year also marks the 20th anniversary of the inclusion of the Local Hero award, which recognises the work of community leaders across the country.

Among the finalists for the award is Victorian Belinda Hill, the founder of Mums of the Hills, an organisation that helps connect mothers in the Yarra and Dandenong ranges region.

"We founded it to make sure that there is proper connection for mums throughout their entire journey as a mother, either being pregnant, right through to being grandparents," she told AAP.

"We also provide opportunities to respond, to prepare and recover from natural disasters."

WA Local Hero nominee James Murphy started up the Town Team Movement as a way to inspire people to improve their communities.

The movement has more than 110 teams helping to foster connections within local areas through events like street festivals, working bees and food co-ops.

"People are becoming a lot more cognisant of the importance of being connected with others," Mr Murphy said.

"Any sort of local network that you can tap into in your local community is of benefit to a better life overall."

The Northern Territory's Young Australian of the Year finalist Jahdai Vigona has been recognised for his role as an Indigenous community leader.

The Tiwi Islands man helps to run mental health education programs within schools.

"It makes me really proud actually, just to know that there's so many like-minded people like myself who are wanting to help the world around them and make an impact and change it for the better," he said.

"I also advocate for young people to have opportunities, to make sure that they look after their health and making sure that those opportunities have been supported in the NT."

© AAP 2023