Defence spend to boost NT: Giles

THE NT's chief minister has welcomed the Defence White Paper as a sign of the top end's regional strategic importance, and says funding will boost jobs.

The NT's chief minister has welcomed the Defence White Paper as a sign of the region's importance.

JOB and business opportunities are expected to flow over the next 20 years as the government announces a commitment of about $20 billion to be spent on defence in the Northern Territory, the chief minister says.

THE federal government on Thursday announced its long-awaited Defence White Paper, which has been welcomed by NT Chief Minister Adam Giles, saying that about 10 per cent of Australia's permanent defence personnel are based in the jurisdiction.