NT parliament: Environmental ‘lawfare’, Territory Coordinator and corrections crisis dominate first sittings for 2025
It was a busy first week back for NT politics, headlined by the ongoing corrections crisis, a crackdown on environmental groups, and pro-development economic reforms. Here’s everything you need to know.
Northern Territory parliament’s first week back for this year was a busy one, with the Country Liberals continuing to push through their plan for economic and law and order reforms.
A clear message was sent before first bells on Tuesday as the government axed funding to the Territory’s major environmental groups.
Losing their annual $100,000 grants is not expected to be a fatal blow for either the Environment Centre NT nor the Arid Lands Environment Centre, but it shows clear battlelines being drawn in the CLP’s pro-development agenda.
Promises to kickstart the economy and crack down on ‘weaponised lawfare’ were also behind the introduction of a Bill to remove third party merit reviews.
The proposed law removes the right for members of the public to launch reviews of petroleum, planning and water projects through the NT Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
The Australian Lawyers Alliance warned a risk of disempowering independent groups such as the ECNT and ALEC was that it reduced “scrutiny to ensure developers and government comply fully with laws in the planning and environmental space”.
“The lack of proper scrutiny of executive government in the NT is already problematic because there is no upper house,” spokesman Greg Barns SC said.
Environment Minister Josh Burgoyne said the CLP had shown it was serious about taking action to provide certainty, employment opportunities and prosperity for Territorians and industry.
“For too long those with ideological and destructive agendas have stifled economic growth and investment in the Northern Territory,” he said.
The Territory Coordinator Bill was also introduced after months of public consultation, and more than 550 written submissions received.
In further economic reforms, the minimum alcohol floor price was removed, promised payroll tax cuts were made into law, and the CLP introduced a Bill to scrap the Territory’s debt ceiling.
Meanwhile, heat on the NT’s corrections system continued to boil over, with more than 40 staff staging a protest at Parliament House against management’s plan to increase capacity.
Corrections officers and union delegates opposed the Bill, pushed through on urgency, which they claimed would “start privatising the prison”, risking safety and jobs.
Opposition Leader Selena Uibo said the CLP’s law and order crack down had made life inside prisons “more dangerous and demanding” for workers.
“We know there is a real fear, not just from police, not just from correction staff, but also from our legal services, that someone will die in one of the watch houses,’ Ms Uibo said.
“We know there’s a real fear that one of our correction staff will be injured or worse on the job, because they are at breaking point.”
Another, separate, protest was staged at the parliament forecourt – around 80 people from Wadeye travelling more than 400km to demand the government commit to promised upgrades for Port Keats Rd.
In the previous Labor government’s 2024-25 budget, $60m was allocated to the upgrades, which were set to begin this year.
The CLP has delayed the funding, prompting community concern the project may not go ahead.
The NT Legislative Assembly is next scheduled to sit on March 18.
Keep reading below to catch up on our rolling coverage from the week.
More Coverage
Originally published as NT parliament: Environmental ‘lawfare’, Territory Coordinator and corrections crisis dominate first sittings for 2025
‘Do not approach’: Hunt on for missing Alice Springs prisoner
The search is on for an Alice Springs prisoner who absconded from work duty – with police urging the public not to approach him. DETAILS.
30+ photos: NT Swimming Championships make a splash
More than 200 swimmers from 17 different clubs will face off to take on the NT Swimming Championships, with many of the Territory’s up-and-coming stars in the mix. Check out the photos.