Knife crime and alcohol have been targeted by the NT government in response to the fatal stabbing of a Darwin retail worker.
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The NT government has introduced new legislation to revoke bail for people involved in crimes with a restricted weapon.
It also announced a voluntary buy-back scheme for liquor licences to reduce alcohol-related harm - a move supported by local mayors.
"There are strong laws in the Northern Territory to keep the community safe as well as the investment to stop the reoffending because that's what we need to focus on," Chief Minister Natasha Fyles told reporters on Thursday.
The NT opposition criticised the new bill - which only covers crimes involving prohibited weapons such as knives, axes and crossbows - for not meeting community expectations.
A proposed amendment to expand the bill to include "weapons of opportunity" was rejected on Wednesday.
"Territorians are experiencing crimes where offenders are using weapons of opportunity - common items that criminals can get their hands on with ease," Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro said.
"Alice Springs truck driver Matt Page wasn't blinded in one eye because of nunchucks - it was a rock thrown through his window."
Australian Lawyers Alliance national criminal justice spokesman Greg Barns SC is concerned the changes will adversely affect vulnerable people.
"There are many instances of harsh bail laws leading to those detained self-harming or suiciding in prison," he said.
Northern Territory Aboriginal Justice Agreement committee co-chair Olga Havnen said making it harder to get bail would contribute to a system of "frequent flyers" or repeat offenders.
"We know if you send someone to jail and they're more incarcerated they're much more likely to come back," she said.
"It's extremely disappointing that this country continues to take this approach with violent offences when we know there are other countries that have moved to close prisons.
"What other areas of policy and provision are there where we keep doing the things that don't work?"
The push to revisit crime legislation comes after the recent fatal stabbing of 20-year-old Darwin bottle shop worker Declan Laverty.
More than 2000 people attended a rally at the weekend to express their dissatisfaction with what they saw as the NT government's inaction on crime.
According to publicly available police data, alcohol-related assaults in the NT increased by almost 20 per cent in the past year.
The prospect of reduced alcohol sales was welcomed by community organisations including the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE).
"We support this measure to improve community safety and wellbeing," FARE chief executive Caterina Giorgi said.
Ms Havnen, the CEO of Danila Dilba Health Service, was also supportive.
"Aboriginal health services have been calling for greater measures to address alcohol-related harm," she said.
"Why does this have to be so difficult when it's so bleedingly obvious?
"If you don't want the carnage, then deal with the underlying causes."
Australian Associated Press
