Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro launches NT Defence Week 2025, talks federal funding

The surge of foreign troops deploying to the Territory is a chance to give local businesses a leg-up, says Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro, who has set her sights on showcasing the Territory’s military value in the coming months.

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro (second from the right) officially launched NT Defence Week on Friday afternoon. Picture: Country Liberal Party.

The surge of foreign troops deploying to the Territory is a chance to give local businesses a leg-up, says Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro, who has set her sights on showcasing the Territory’s military value in the coming months.

On Friday afternoon, Mrs Finocchiaro officially launched NT Defence Week, which will run from April 28 to May 2.

Accompanied by military leaders and defence industry figures at East Arm, Mrs Finocchiaro told a press conference the event would offer significant business opportunities.

“This is an exciting opportunity to not only hold a two-day summit with some of the best defence minds in the country, but also provide networking opportunities for our defence industries across the Territory,” she said.

In recent years, significant funds have been poured into the Territory from both the Australian and US Federal Governments, including $1.5 billion for the redevelopment of RAAF Base Tindal, $746 million for the USFPI Training Areas and Ranges Project, and $600 million for the redevelopment of the Larrakeyah Defence Precinct.

Ms Finocchiaro (right) says the event will offer local businesses the chance to gain insight into future defence industry opportunities. Picture: Country Liberal Party.

However, with further funds expected to be committed to the Territory, Ms Finocchiaro said she the event was a prime opportunity for locals to cash-in on future opportunities.

“Defence week is going to be a fantastic time for all of our industries to come together and learn more about what defence is planning for the Territory going forward,” she said.

“And of course providing opportunities to collaborate with each other on projects and joint ventures, giving us even more capability to deliver the huge investment we’re expected to see from the Federal Government.”

While defence expenditure accounts for almost 10 per cent of the Territory’s gross state product, compared to 2.3 per cent nationally, the Top End’s military footprint is expected to receive a reasonable boost in the coming months, with hundreds of Japanese troops set to rotate through Darwin annually.

Ms Finocchiaro met Japanese Defence Minister Gen Nakatani (pictured) in Darwin last year, who announced Japanese troops would be deployed to the Territory from 2025. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Mrs Finocchiaro said there was value in hosting the Japanese warfighters.

“We know that the Japanese Self Defense Force is a new opportunity for the Territory, and the Federal Government made that announcement late last year,” she said.

“I had the opportunity to welcome the Japanese Defense Minister here to the Territory and so as that plays out we’re really looking forward to hosting the Japanese and showing them that the Territory is fantastic place to try and create that interoperability, not only with our own Australian Defence Force but of course with Marine Rotation Force as well.”

Mrs Finocchiaro said she also intended to lockup further defence money flowing from Canberra.

“We’re hoping to secure a large portion of the Federal Government’s funding – in the last few years, while there has been billions on the table, the Territory hasn’t had a really clear picture of what’s in store to spend here in the Territory,” she said.

“That’s my focus going (to get) as much of that as possible so that local contractors are the ones benefiting and our people are the ones who set to gain socially and economically.”

RAAF Base Tindal (pictured) is undergoing a $1.5 billion makeover, involving the input of local businesses.

Industry Capability Network chief executive Dan McCormick said local industry had developed a positive reputation in Canberra.

“We know we have a long standing history of working with defence across many different projects, be it naval projects, air force projects, or even army expansions and servicing and supporting those projects,” he said.

“Our territory companies here have an amazing history of supporting not only defence, but more broadly, other resources industries, and we intend to showcase that capability in this amazing week.”