NT Chief Minister asks PM for $300m shiplift help

THE Territory will plunge deeper into debt if the Commonwealth doesn’t agree to the Gunner Government’s demand for $300 million of federal funding for its ship lift project

Artist impression of the new shiplift at East Arm. Picture: Supplied

THE Territory will plunge deeper into debt if the Commonwealth doesn’t agree to the Gunner Government’s demand for $300 million of federal funding for its ship lift project.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner yesterday reached out to Prime Minister Scott Morrison for financial support for the Darwin Ship Lift and Marine Industry Park at East Arm.

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In a letter to Mr Morrison, Mr Gunner said his Government had put $100 million towards the project, but needed $300 million more.

If that money didn’t come from the Federal Government, he would seek to borrow it to secure the “nation-building infrastructure”.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)

“I believe we must continue to grow the northern economy through more population, better infrastructure and major projects,” Mr Gunner wrote.

“The Darwin Ship Lift and Marine Industry Park is an important national project which will provide a significant push to that growth.

“It will enable the maintenance and servicing of Defence and Australian Border Force vessels, along with commercial and private vessels, in particular from the oil, gas and marine industries.

“The project will drive industry, create local jobs and help to consolidate Darwin’s position as a hub for marine maintenance and servicing.”

But a federal contribution looks unlikely.

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When asked by the NT News late last month if the Coalition would consider matching Federal Labor’s pre-election pledge of $300 million towards the project, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg indicated it would not.

“Our policies we took to the election are the policies after the election,” he said.

Mr Gunner also called on Mr Morrison to roll out his $216.2 million commitment to the revitalisation of Kakadu National Park and the remediation of Jabiru across four years, rather than the 10-year time frame at present.

Mr Gunner invited Mr Morrison to Kakadu to the signing of a memorandum of understanding for the project.