NT organisations lay out their hopes for the new CLP government
From justice reforms, to staffing solutions to fixing the housing crisis, here’s what prominent NT peak bodies and lobby groups are hoping the Country Liberal Party can deliver. FULL LIST.
Northern Territory
Don't miss out on the headlines from Northern Territory. Followed categories will be added to My News.
With its decisive win at the Northern Territory election, the Country Liberal Party has a strong mandate for change.
Here’s what key NT organisations, peak bodies and lobby groups are hoping the new government can deliver.
North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency
“This election presents a landmark opportunity to press the reset button on how we, as a society, support individuals out of a cycle of offending and make our communities safer,” principal legal officer Jared Sharp said.
“This cannot be achieved by simply funding more police and more prisons. Without increased investment in tackling poverty and disadvantage, poor housing and overcrowding, and health problems, Aboriginal people will bear the brunt of law-and-order policies that overlook the root causes of offending.”
Keep politics away from children
- Reform bail, removing power to arrest for minor breaches and reverse tougher bail laws introduced in 2021
- Prioritise and improve access to diversion
- Provide specialist courts and intensive rehabilitation for young people most in need
- Bolster kinship caring
Adults need smarter justice approaches
- Better laws and improved courts, including more community courts, and fixing bail laws that better reflect presumption of innocence
- More alternatives to reduce reliance on prison and tackle drivers of reoffending
- Reforming systems that embed disadvantage and poor justice outcomes, such as compulsory police cultural training
Hospitality NT
“Many of our members will benefit from the payroll tax reforms. They will be able to hire more Territorians and reinvest in their businesses,” chief executive Alex Bruce said.
Royal Australian College of GPs
NT Chair Dr Sam Heard said incentives and investments into both GP’s and primary care workers – such as pharmacists and nurses – was needed to improve the quality of Territory healthcare and help ease pressure on hospitals.
“We need to grow our GP workforce,” he said.
“There is no substitute for the quality care you get from a GP who knows you and your medical history, and people in the Territory deserve nothing less.”
- Funding for 6-weeks locum coverage for rural GPs so they can afford a locum and have a break
- Investment to repair existing housing, build new houses where needed, and ensure all accommodation is fit for use by GPs and registrars who care for patients in remote communities
- Incentive payments to help attract more junior doctors to move to the NT to train as GPs
- A full exemption for independent GPs from payroll tax to help secure the future of GP care in the NT
People’s Alcohol Action Coalition
Spokesman Dr John Boffa said the CLP must reverse its promise to scrap the alcohol floor price, or see a “disastrous return to the bad old days of cheap grog”.
“As sure as night follows day, the removal of the floor price will see more people drunk, more often,” he said.
“The result will be higher consumption by problem drinkers, as all the credible research has shown, and more alcohol-related injury, illness and offending, including domestic violence.
“The floor price needs to be indexed as originally promised and should now sit at around $1.50 a drink. But if it goes all together, we’ll again see dangerously cheap wine in the Territory’s bottle shops.”
The Thrive by Five NT Early Childhood Alliance
“Childcare and early learning is too expensive or inaccessible for many Territory families, depriving children of valuable learning and socialisation experiences in the first five years of life,” alliance convenor Sarah Rheinberger said.
“As well as disadvantaging children, this means parents and carers cannot go back to work when they want because there is no childcare, which ultimately deprives their communities of workers.
“At the same time, too many children with learning disabilities, neurodivergence or trauma are going without the support required to learn and thrive, because their families cannot access services.”
- Establish an independent Office of Early Childhood Development
- Establish a $10m fund to overcome the staffing crisis contributing to long wait lists for childcare and other wrap around services, especially in remote areas.
Northern Territory Council of Social Service
- Strengthen the family violence sector and provide women and children better access to safety, including $180m funding and the establishment of an ongoing DV peak body
- Expand the concession scheme and improve protections for renters to ensure all Territorians can cover the basics
- Support affordable energy and a clean climate, including a target of net zero emissions by 2050, and minimum energy efficiency standards in rental accommodation
- Support Territorians by investing in the sustainability of the community services sector
- Provide safe environments for children and families to thrive, including establishing a youth peak body, and fully funding the generational strategy
- Invest in solutions that enhance community safety, including fully fund and continue to implement the Aboriginal Justice Agreement and increase the age of criminal responsibility to 14
Australian Energy Producers
The national oil and gas peak body said Natural gas is critical to the NT’s economic growth, energy security and a net zero emissions future.
It called for ongoing support from the NT government to bring on new gas supply and ensure reliable and affordable energy for the NT.
- Deliver energy security for the NT
- Unlock the economic and employment opportunities of gas
- Streamline approval processes to bring on new gas supply sooner
- Incentivise and support low emissions technologies
- Support a strong LNG export industry
Environment Centre NT
“There are a few glimmers of hope in terms of what the CLP have committed to, but on the whole their position on the environment and climate is disappointing,” executive director Kirsty Howey said.
“These are issues Territorians care about and we expect to see much stronger commitments.”
- release transparent emissions data
- invest in battery storage for renewables, improve renewables target and install renewables in Indigenous communities
- ban fracking until life cycle domestic Beetaloo emissions are fully offset
- exclude petrochemicals from Middle Arm and require Larrakia consent for the project
- save Lee Point
- remove all fossil fuel subsidies
- raise the minimum energy star rating from 5 to 7 stars for new homes
- new laws to protect nature and to mandate safe drinking water
- remove land clearing approvals from the pastoral board
- create a biodiversity strategy
- remove ‘arid zone’ rules to stop unsustainable extraction from aquifers
- include binding caps on extraction in water plans
Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory
- Power sharing with Aboriginal organisations and communities
- A workforce for Aboriginal comprehensive primary health care, supporting better recruitment, training and retention
- Supporting Aboriginal community controlled health services
- Housing for health, including more remote homes and culturally appropriate designs
- Youth justice reforms, including more focus on rehabilitation and stopping the transition of youth justice from Territory Families to the Corrections Department
- Effective alcohol regulation to keep the Northern Territory safe, such as maintaining high floor prices, continuing takeaway purchase limits and supporting full time PALIs at all bottleshops.
Council on the Ageing, NT
- Aged care: ensure accessibility, affordability and quality care for seniors
- Housing: prioritise the build of seniors’ housing to provide real and liveable options
- Cost of living: adjust concessions in line with the rising cost of living, increase MVR discounts and help those on fixed incomes to find everyday savings.
- Safety: continue investment in community engagement to inform seniors about issues, and provide support for improved safety at home, on public transport, and online.
- Health and wellbeing: develop an Ageing Well in the Territory policy and Seniors Active Recreation Plan.
- Civil rights: safeguard against age discrimination, encourage seniors participation in community life, and legislate the right to access Voluntary Assisted Dying.
Northern Land Council
“We are hopeful that the new Chief Minister’s vision to address crime, reinvigorate the economy, and restore lifestyles will include meaningful engagement with Aboriginal people, ensuring that our vital voices are heard and respected in the decision-making processes,” NLC chair Matthew Ryan said.
“I thank the CLP for its commitment to support Indigenous Rangers programs with $12m in funding over the next four years. As the NLC continues to care for country, we are eager to meet with the new government to discuss this and other priorities, including the Territory Treaty, remote housing and homelands, Aboriginal Sea Rights compliance, and water licensing and land clearing issues as well.”
Amateur Fishermen’s Association of the Northern Territory
The recreational fishing peak body welcomed the CLP’s commitment to phase out commercial gillnets.
“A bright fishing future is far from guaranteed,” AFANT said.
“ Excellent fishing is dependent on a range of policy settings, investment decisions, responses to challenges and changing situations - both local and external - and sometimes requires decisive commitments to trade-offs.
“The key needs of our sector include sound, responsive, and participatory fisheries management; clear and enduring access to fishing grounds; strategic infrastructure development and regular maintenance; environmental protection; best practice water resource governance; and sufficient funding for community groups, projects, and inclusive activities.”
NT Chamber of Commerce, Central Australia
Supporting and attracting workforce
- Expand industries eligible for the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme
- Increase tax incentives for workers, including a review of zone rebates
- Re-establish a Northern Australia regional business and personal taxation relief zone
Housing and accommodation
- Undertake a housing and accommodation audit in Central Australia to understand the stock, demand and shortfall
- Introduce a first homeowner incentive that’s not limited to new builds
- Review the cost to construct in Central Australia
Major Projects and private sector investment
- Reduce red tape for investment into Central Australia
- Develop one department responsible for guiding and supporting project development from grassroots through to project completion
- Provide a short, medium and long term plan on major projects and capital works in Central Australia
Local Government Association of the Northern Territory
“CLP has indicated they are looking at widespread changes to local government and we believe close consultation is essential if the right decisions are going to be made,” president Kon Vatskalis said.
- Stop unfair preferencing for grants and contracts: Commit to not preferencing Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations over Aboriginal-led regional local government councils in policy and program development. This means local councils can employ local workers to do local jobs.
- Consultation, costing and funding: Ensure robust consultation and proper costing and funding of any community-led de-amalgamations to ensure continuity of services and service standards, the ongoing financial sustainability of impacted councils, and no adverse impact on other councils.
- Code of Conduct reform: Implement reform of the Local Government Code of Conduct framework including increased funding for elected member governance training and for the NT Government’s Local Government Unit to enable proactive compliance support and timely responses to misconduct complaints.
Urban Development Institute of Australia, NT
“While there is no doubt that we need to make sure there is enough social and affordable housing available to address the growing unmet housing need, we also need to look more broadly across the whole spectrum to ensure we deliver housing supply for the entire community needs,” chief executive Drew Wagner said.
“We need to look at how we can activate our communities, provide them with the lifestyle that we have come to love so dearly.
“While housing is a key component, we need an integrated and whole of system approach that includes looking at economic development, skills availabilities and population growth.”
Mr Wagner said that to help deliver all potential projects, the government must use policy and planning levers to encourage private investment - not limited to streamlining regulations and assessments, installing enabling infrastructure, and reducing time frames.
“In short, if the NT is open for business, then we need to make sure everyone understands what that means.”
Minerals Council of Australia, NT
“As the newly elected NT Government takes office, there is a significant opportunity to build a stronger partnership between the government and the mining industry,” executive director Cathryn Tilmouth said.
“With several projects awaiting approval and opportunities for mine rehabilitation and mineral processing, the Territory is primed for economic growth.”
- Establish clear and stable regulations: Promote investment confidence by establishing clear regulations, time frames and avoiding duplication
- Unlock Major Projects: Enhance the benefits of Major Project Status to co-ordinate and unlock the blockage of mining development projects in the pipeline
- Invest in infrastructure: Invest in enabling and common use infrastructure development to improve access to underdeveloped regions and provide supply chain certainty
- Implement task force recommendations: Implement the Mineral Development Taskforce recommendations to overcome identified barriers to investment in the NT
- Focus on workforce development: Leverage Australia’s strengths in training and development to provide a local skilled workforce available
Originally published as NT organisations lay out their hopes for the new CLP government
A watchful eye: How Border Force is combating drug cartels in Northern Australia
As drug cartels become craftier, the challenge to protect the nation becomes more difficult. See how Border Force officers operate in the Top End at sea and on land.
Exposed: Teen hoon had 85 ‘occurrences’ with police before allegedly ramming cop car
The NT News can reveal the amount of ‘occurrences’ a group of youth offenders had with police before they allegedly rammed into them with stolen cars in Alice Springs. Find out more.