Territory Economic Reconstruction Commission recommendations bill passes NT parliament
Longer water licences, faster food business approvals and using digital wallets to scan into the Banned Drinker Register are now law after a major omnibus bill passed on Thursday.
Northern Territory
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A RAFT of reforms recommended by the Territory Economic Reconstruction Commission have passed into law, with the government refusing to back down on controversial changes to water licences.
Among the reforms passed will make the banned drinkers register compatible with digital drivers licences on platforms such as Google Pay and Apple Wallet.
Bureaucrats will also have to process new food business applications such as upstart restaurants and cafes within 30 days.
But an outcry from environmentalists over reforms to the water controller has fallen on deaf ears, with some operators now able to apply for water licences for 30 years.
The CLP has also criticised the omnibus bill for not doing enough to turbocharge the NT’s economic recovery.
The bill passed through parliament on Thursday after a marathon debate spanning two days of sittings.
NT Attorney-General Selena Uibo said the reforms were “all about cutting red tape and approval times”.
“These amendments make things simpler – but not more risky,” Ms Uibo said.
“We still have robust protections in place for our valuable resources.
“The legislation will also open the door to new investment opportunities for the private sector, which will help grow our economy.
Ms Uibo said the government was trying to encourage investment and economic expansion to create jobs in the aftermath of the pandemic.
Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro said the CLP supported the changes but argued they didn’t go far enough.
“Some of them are seriously underwhelming, but some represent a tiny change in the right direction,” Ms Finocchiaro said.
“What we need right now is a Gunner government focused on our economy and tackling crime, and we just don’t have that.”
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Environment Centre NT co-director Kirsty Howey said her organisation was worried about “rushed” changes to the Water Act without consultation.
“It opens up the Territory for water speculation, where big developers can apply to take all the water,” Ms Howey said.
She said the NT, which already had “among the worst (water laws) in the country”, was heading in the direction of situation in the Murray-Darling.
“What we should be doing is tightening up our water laws, making our allocations stronger.
“Instead, we’re just seeing the handing out of even more water for free.”
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