NT Govt told ‘now it’s time to get down to real business’

THE Territory’s business community says it wants plenty of action now that the Gunner Labor Government has likely been returned to office

• Why next Govt’s first 100 days will decide NT’s future

ACTIONS speak louder than words and the Territory’s business community says it wants plenty of the former now that the Gunner Labor Government has likely been returned to office.

“Now is not the time to have a rest,” Chamber of Commerce chief executive Greg Ireland said.

Mr Ireland said the real challenge for the next four years was just beginning and the government must move on quickly from the celebrating.

“Our priorities haven’t changed,” he said.

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“With everything so much in the balance it is going to be interesting to see how the election result washes out over the next few days.

“Once we get that clarity we will know where we stand for the next four years.

“It is now an opportunity for us to really get on top of all the key economic drivers we are going to need to get ourselves out of this mess.”

Chamber of Commerce NT chief executive Greg Ireland.

The Chamber of Commerce NT has outlined key areas to be addressed including: Regrowing the economy; Investing in infrastructure; Restarting economic reform; Streamlining government processes; Expanding the population; Building skills better; Maximising energy potential.

Mr Ireland said he thought the biggest price paid at the election had been by Territory Alliance.

“The sudden change to a ban on fracking definitely cost Territory Alliance badly with the business community and conservative voters,” Mr Ireland said.

“Throwing out a bomb that fracking would be stopped when we had already been through that in 2016 has been reflected in the vote.

“The two biggest issues in the election were coronavirus, general community safety and then the economy.

“I think a lot of people shifted their vote when Territory Alliance’s ban fracking plan was announced … just look at the massive collapse of the vote in Johnston and the leader’s own seat.

“I would think the future of the Territory Alliance Party is in doubt.

“The positive is that the opposition has become clearer with just a single representation in that space and a stronger one.”

Real Estate Institute of the NT chief executive Quentin Kilian said the focus for government now must be on economic recovery.

REINT chief executive Quentin Kilian.

“The key for us now is economic recovery, so Chief Minister Michael Gunner and his government have a task ahead of them that goes beyond COVID-19 and that is to rebuild the economy very quickly and rebuild the population,” Mr Kilian said.

Business and industry sectors will be watching that very closely.

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“That has to be front and centre in their agenda because we have a very large debt that can potentially be rebounded from, but it is going to take some serious focus on economic and population recovery,” Mr Kilian said.

“They need to have a plan to buckle down now and start getting into what they have been promising.”