New ‘Team Territory’ commission to lead economic recovery strategy for NT post COVID-19

CHIEF Minister Michael Gunner will today announce the creation of a new commission to lead an economic recovery strategy for the Northern Territory post-coronavirus crisis

NT Minister Michael Gunner will today announce the creation of a new commission to lead an economic recovery strategy for the Northern Territory post-coronavirus crisis. Picture: Glenn Campbell

CHIEF Minister Michael Gunner will today announce the creation of a new commission to lead an economic recovery strategy for the Northern Territory post-coronavirus crisis.

It will be called the Territory Economic Reconstruction Commission.

Mr Gunner said the commission was the result of instructions he gave in late March for the proposal to be developed through the Security and Emergency Management sub-committee of cabinet.

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Mr Gunner has been under fire this week from the Territory’s peak industry bodies that joined forces and warned the NT was staring at a catastrophe post-coronavirus, saying they had no confidence in the Gunner Government to deal with it alone.

In the NT News on Monday, they called for an economic recovery commission to lead and shape the Territory’s economic strategy.

Mr Gunner said a lot of work had already been done to help the Territory survive and adapt through this crisis.

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“Now it’s time to start the work on reconstruction, so the Territory can rebuild and rebound as strongly as possible,” he said.

“We are the safest place in Australia and I want us to have the strongest comeback in Australia.”

Mr Gunner wants to pull together a “Team Territory” group of leaders and experts.

A draft Green Paper has been worked on for several weeks. It will now be subject to targeted consultation with business and industry, led by the Chief Minister.

The Green Paper is expected to be finalised by next week, when the Chief Minister will also finalise the membership of the commission.

Priorities for the commission would include things like identifying job-creating projects, strategies for upskilling workers, working with industry to grow private enterprise, and securing future private investment in the Territory.

Mr Gunner pointed to the fact that the coronavirus crisis was the biggest economic hit to Australia and the NT since the great depression.

He said he wanted to continue the “whatever it takes” approach when it comes to the recovery.