First published in The Canberra Times

The Rudd Government is facing criticism from all sides over its threat to take over Alice Springs town camps, but for diverse reasons.

The Opposition accused it of taking too long to take action on the camps, which Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin admitted are dangerous places for vulnerable women and children.

''Living conditions in the camps are appalling,'' she said in Melbourne.

''Acute overcrowding, sub-standard housing, combined with alcohol abuse, despair and hopelessness have led to desperate and dangerous consequences these camps have been the sites of horrific crimes.''

But the Tangentyere Council, which oversees the camps, believed the Government was taking a heavy-handed approach and keeping indigenous people stuck in a cycle of welfare dependency.

And lawyer George Newhouse, who has worked with Aboriginal people opposed to the Northern Territory intervention, said the Government could be in breach of its United Nations obligations if it went ahead with a forced resumption of the town camps.

''I have already been contacted by town residents in order to request urgent action from the United Nations if the resumption goes ahead,'' he said.

Yesterday, Ms Macklin announced the Government would take the first steps towards the compulsory acquisition of the camps from the council.

Last week, the Tangentyere Council rejected an increased Government offer of $125million to improve housing and health services in the camps. In return, the council had to sign a 40-year lease with the Federal Government.

''For 10 months the Australian and Northern Territory governments have been in negotiations with Tangentyere Council ... [and we] made 35 concessions and extended the deadline on three separate occasions,'' Ms Macklin said.

''Tangentyere Council's refusal leaves [us] with no option but to take the first step towards compulsory acquisition of the Alice Springs town camps if we are to have any hope of improving the lives of residents.''

The Rudd Government will give stakeholders until at least July 6 to make submissions and will make a decision on acquisition thereafter.

While rejecting the $125million offer, the council believed it was close to a deal with the Government and had proposed further negotiations.

The council wanted the Federal Government to allow a three-year trial of community management of the camps and sought assurances residents would continue to have input during the 40-year lease.

Tangentyere Council executive director William Tilmouth accused the Government yesterday of ''shamefully implementing a discriminatory policy'' created by the former Howard government.

''This action is denying us the economic opportunity to rid ourselves of welfare dependency,'' he said.

''All we are asking [is] for the Government to treat us the same as they treat and support the mainstream community housing sector.''

Opposition indigenous affairs spokesman Tony Abbott supported the Government move but said it had been too long coming.

''You can hardly say that Jenny Macklin has moved quickly here ... it's about time she took some more decisive action on this,'' he said.

Mr Abbott suggested the announcement was linked to the Government's publication last week of a discussion paper on the intervention, which the Coalition said foreshadowed a ''virtual emasculation'' of the policy.