Territory Economic Reconstruction Commission cost the taxpayer almost nothing

The eight-member Territory Economic Reconstruction Commission tasked with figuring out the NT’s post-coronavirus comeback cost the taxpayer almost nothing.

THE eight-member Territory Economic Reconstruction Commission tasked with figuring out the NT’s post-coronavirus comeback cost the taxpayer almost nothing.

The NT government has confirmed almost all members of the TERC, made up of experts from the public and private sector and led by gas sector heavyweight Andrew Liveris and former chief minister Paul Henderson, volunteered their time and took no payment.

Commission members, as noted by Chief Minister Michael Gunner in May, were entitled to sitting fees, with the ceiling set at $44,000 for the year, paid pro rata.

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Asked how much TERC members were remunerated, the Chief Minister’s office said the costs were “nominal” and government support lent to the team were met via existing resources.

The TERC delivered their blueprint for a Territory-wide step change that will win more private investment and create jobs on Tuesday.

This means their work is done, and oversight responsibility for implementation of the plan falls to the 18-member “Team Territory”, chaired by former chief minister Clare Martin and businessman Dick Guit.

Michael Gunner and Andrew LIveris following their meeting about the TERC.

Territory government departmental heads have been ordered to have their plans on how to tackle the commission’s report on Mr Gunner’s desk by February.

A spokesman for the Chief Minister said most members of Team Territory were also volunteering their team and not taking payment.

It’s understood TERC members have offered to provide support and advice to the NT into the future as needed.

“Commission members have told me they are happy to help out wherever they can in the future, and I’m taking them up on that,” Mr Gunner said.

“They’ve spent six months studying the Territory and serving the Territory, and they still want to keep working for us. They will only be a phone call away.

“Andrew (Liveris) is a Territory boy through-and-through, but I reckon we can call the others honorary Territorians now too.”