Creating jobs & growing the economy

The Northern Territory Government has launched its Rebuilding the Economy: Northern Territory Economic Strategy 2025, a comprehensive plan to revitalise economic growth and improve the quality of life for all Territorians.

A thriving economy drives business activity, job creation and investment and strengthens the foundation for essential services such as health care, education, transportation and infrastructure.

Read the Rebuilding the Economy: Northern Territory Economic Strategy 2025 PDF (3.4 MB).

Read the Rebuilding the Economy – Strategy on a page PDF (120.5 KB).

The Territory Coordinator is an independent statutory role established to champion transformative projects that fuel private sector investment, job creation, population growth, and industry advancement in the Northern Territory.

The Territory Coordinator can:

• Accelerate significant investments, making it easier for investors to bring big ideas to life.
• Streamline approvals, coordinating and consolidating regulatory processes to drive economic progress.
• Enhance competitiveness, positioning the Northern Territory as a prime destination for large-scale investments.

A catalyst for progress

The Territory Coordinator Act 2025 is a game-changing initiative designed to unlock the Northern Territory’s potential by delivering results, and fostering sustainable growth.

Key features of the Act include:

• Primary principle: Requires the Minister or Coordinator to consider the primary objective of driving economic development while considering social and environmental outcomes, when exercising powers under the Act;
• Project designation: Identifies Significant Projects, Programs of Work and Territory Development Areas, including Infrastructure Coordination Areas and respective plans;
• Expediting statutory processes and decisions: Streamlined processes: Empowers the Minister and Coordinator to issue requests and notices to simplify regulatory pathways, where appropriate.

View Ministerial notices of activity under the Act

Territory Coordinator functions

The Territory Coordinator’s functions include:

• Investigate projects and works that may be suitable to be designated as Significant Projects or Programs of Works.
• Identify and investigate areas of the Territory that may be suitable to be designated as Infrastructure Coordination Areas or Territory Development Areas
• Prepare, coordinate and oversee the implementation of Infrastructure Coordination Plans and Territory Development Area Plans.
• Facilitate collaboration and coordination between stakeholders.

Contact

For more information go to Territory Coordinator website or email otc@nt.gov.au

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The Taskforce’s final report, Saying ‘Yes’ to Business, has been delivered and outlines 22 recommendations to simplify approval processes and remove barriers that have been holding back investment.

The Government is now considering the final report and will release its response in due course.

Background

The Approvals Fast-Track Taskforce was appointed by Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro in November 2024 to provide expert advice on streamlining approvals and removing unnecessary and burdensome regulations.

The Taskforce was comprised of industry experts from across the Territory to identify reforms that will benefit the greatest number of businesses, including small businesses across construction, hospitality, and agriculture and aquaculture sectors.

The Taskforce membership consisted of:

• Mark Garraway (Chair), former Property Council of Australia NT President.
• Rebecca Bullen, Founder/Owner of Stone House, Charlie’s of Darwin and Darwin Distilling Co.
• Michael Buckley, Director of M+J Builders.
• Andrew Dalglish, Owner of Foxalicious Fruit.
• Stuart Kenny, Managing Director of Territory Instruments.
• Hermanus Louw, Director of Louw Group.
• Dan Richards, CEO of Humpty Doo Barramundi.
• Tony Smith, Director of NT Link (until February 2025).

Dr. Alan Dupont AO

The Northern Territory (NT) Government supports the activities of the NT Defence and National Security Advocate Dr. Alan Dupont AO to promote our capabilities and capacity.

The NT has a critical role in Australia’s national security, including: energy, resources, maritime, biosecurity, economic and trade, immigration, military and border security. Darwin is also the regional hub for Australia’s international engagement and trade.

The NT defence economy is considered to cover the impacts of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) operational and training activities, manufacturing, supply and support for those activities and the broader economic effect of Defence personnel and their families living and visiting the NT. Other aspects of Australia’s national security have similarly important, albeit lesser, impact on the NT economy.

The 2020 Australian Defence Strategic Update and ongoing focus on maximising Australian industry involvement in Defence capability projects will create new opportunities in the Northern Territory over the coming decade and beyond. The Update has a projected investment into Defence of $270 billion over the next 10 years that will take annual defence spending beyond the 2 per cent of GDP committed to in 2013. This has significant implications for the Territory as the government re-prioritises the ADF's geographical focus on the immediate region.

To ensure that the NT is at the forefront of northern Australia’s contribution to a more prosperous and secure Australia, the NT Government will have a consistent presence in Canberra, the NT Defence and National Security Advocate. The NT advocate assists the NT in gaining the attention of influence with the Australian Government, the Department of Defence and defence support industries, the Australian Government national security and foreign military forces.