Chief Minister wants tax reform, infrastructure upgrades and support on crime

The Chief Minister has outlined her wishlist to the federal government for the Territory, stating she wants to challenge the status quo. Read the details.

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro has said she will plead the Territory’s “special” case to the incoming federal government, hoping to challenge the status quo when it comes to key issues.

Speaking to the NT News on election night, Ms Finocchiaro said her government had “worked well” with Canberra for the past eight months, but there was much more to be done. 

“We’ll be pushing a really big agenda for the next federal government to be looking at the Territory through a different lens,” the Chief Minister said.

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro was often seen with CLP candidate for Solomon Lisa Bayliss throughout the election campaign. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“Rather than a lens of just maintaining the status quo, we want to really dial it up.

“We have big plans for the Territory and we need a federal government that recognises that.”

Ms Finocchiaro said the region’s strategic defence importance and mineral resources justified a “different way of dealing with the Territory”.

“We want changes to taxation and different carve outs for migration and international students,” she said.

“We need significant infrastructure upgrades and investment to those core arterial roads like the Stuart Highway, Victoria Highway and Barkly Highway.”

Ms Finocchiaro said crime was still the number one issue for Territorians. Picture: Darcy Fitzgerald

Top of Ms Finocchiaro’s wishlist was support on crime and law and order, with the Chief Minister pointing to the seven “critical areas” she had approached Canberra with for assistance in December last year.

“The seven-point plan that we put to the federal government is a big part of how they can help us to reduce crime,” she said.

“They have been working on it with us, but there continues to be work around royalty reforms and referrals for income management.”

Labor’s Luke Gosling, who was re-elected for a record fourth time in the seat of Solomon, said his government would continue to work with the Territory government while also holding them to account.

Luke Gosling has represented Territorians since 2016. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“Federal Labor will always stand with the NT government to deliver for the people of the Northern Territory, whether that be on community safety, whether it’s economic development and social development,” he said.

“What is clear is that when it comes to making sure that our community is safe, the NT government has an enormous responsibility.

“And I will be holding them to account.”

Originally published as Chief Minister wants tax reform, infrastructure upgrades and support on crime