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 position of Territory Coordinator is being created to drive economic growth in the Northern Territory (NT) and accelerate private sector jobs and opportunities for all Territorians.

As an independent statutory role, the Territory Coordinator will:

• fast-track major investments, making it easier for investors to bring big ideas to life
• streamline approvals across government, removing roadblocks to economic progress
• boost the Territory’s competitiveness, attracting large-scale investments to fuel growth and development.

The Territory Coordinator will ensure compliance remains a priority, and work closely with regulatory agencies so that projects meet necessary requirements without unnecessary delays.

This will ensure that the NT remains competitive in attracting and securing major investments.

Territory Coordinator Bill

The Department of the Chief Minister and Cabinet invited Territorians to provide feedback on the draft Bill.

Public and stakeholder engagement on the draft bill has been an essential step in establishing the role, with more than 550 written submissions being received during the consultation phase.

This feedback has informed amendments to the bill and ensures the final legislation reflects the views and needs of Territorians.

• Read the Territory Coordinator Bill Consultation Report PDF (1.3 MB)

Next steps

The Territory Coordinator Bill was passed by the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly during the March 2025 parliamentary sittings following extensive scrutiny and debate.

In line with usual legislative processes, formal assent and commencement procedures are now occurring, for the Bill to become law as quickly as possible.

Contact

For more information email otc@nt.gov.au

The Northern Territory Government has appointed an Approvals Fast Track Taskforce to provide expert advice on streamlining approvals and removing unnecessary and burdensome regulations.

The taskforce is comprised of industry experts from across the NT, and they will provide recommendations to government on how to reform regulatory processes to reduce approvals timeframes by 50%.

The taskforce membership consists of:

• former Property Council of Australia NT President, Mark Garraway (chair)
• M+J Builders Director, Michael Buckley
• NT Link Director, Tony Smith
• Territory Instruments Managing Director, Stuart Kenny
• Humpty Doo Barramundi CEO, Dan Richards
• Foxalicious Fruit Owner, Andrew Dalglish
• Louw Group Director, Hermanus Louw
• Stonehouse, Charlie’s of Darwin, and Darwin Distillery owner, Bec Bullen.

The taskforce will focus on reforms that will benefit the greatest number of businesses. The taskforce is established for 6 months, and will report its findings and recommendations to the Chief Minister.

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.