The Abbott government is determined to tackle head-on the "scourge" of alcohol in Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander communities.
The government has set up a parliamentary inquiry into the harmful use of alcohol in Indigenous communities, just days after reiterating its commitment to improving the lives of first Australians.
Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion said governments at all levels must unite to tackle the epidemic of alcohol abuse "or risk condemning these communities to a life of alcohol-fuelled poverty".
"This inquiry will focus on best practice to shape programs and practices that will reduce the scourge of alcohol in indigenous communities," he said in a statement.
The lower house's standing committee on Indigenous affairs will look into what factors contribute to harmful drinking across indigenous communities and ways to minimise alcohol-related harm.
The committee's chair, Liberal MP Sharman Stone, said the inquiry was not singling out Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the only group that has problems with alcohol.
But she said there's concern those in the community who do drink, do so at riskier levels that have greater health-related impacts.
The Northern Territory's shadow minister for indigenous affairs criticised the inquiry when it was first flagged in January.
Ken Vowles termed the inquiry as "insulting" and "disgusting".
The inquiry is the latest in a string of government attempts to tackle the problem of alcohol misuse in indigenous communities.
A series of bills passed in the last decade have introduced measures from Labor's Stronger Futures alcohol restriction and income management scheme to the Howard government's Northern Territory intervention.
Submissions to the inquiry are due by April 17.
