NT business bodies’ cautious tick of approval for Gunner plans for Reconstruction Commission

THE Territory’s key business and industry bodies have given the NT Government a cautious tick for its proposed Reconstruction Commission

Chief Minister Michael Gunner wants to gather a ‘Team Territory’ group of leaders and experts. Picture: Glenn Campbell

THE Territory’s key business and industry bodies wanting an Economic Recovery Commission have given the NT Government a cautious tick for its proposed Reconstruction Commission.

Key stakeholders are now being invited to meet one-on-one with the Chief Minister to work through the commission model his Government has put on the table.

Michael Gunner wants to gather a “Team Territory” group of leaders and experts.

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A draft Green Paper has been compiled and it will now be subject to targeted consultation with business and industry, led by Mr Gunner.

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

Master Builders chief executive officer David Malone and Chamber of Commerce NT chief executive officer Greg Ireland have both received invitations.

Mr Malone said he was keen to learn more about the Chief Minister’s Reconstruction Commission.

“I’ll be looking for it to have a lot of what we have previously proposed in our detailed economic recovery model … the structure and how it might connect into the wider government bureaucracy,” Mr Malone said.

Mr Ireland said the Chief Minister’s commission proposal was a good start and an opener for some more detailed conversation.

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“I don’t think it is going to go as far as we would like it to go, but I guess that will be revealed in the finer points of the discussions we will have down the track,” he said.

“I’d like to see it with a bit of power rather than that which go with advisory committees.

“That said, dealing directly with the Chief Minister you would hope the commission is talking straight to the top.”

Mr Gunner said his vision was for the Reconstruction Commission to have a specific short-term agenda “to set things up”.

“What happens permanently after that will be based off the recommendations to come out of that including potentially ongoing work for a commission,” he said.

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