Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro pledge’s a year of ‘action, certainty and security’

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro’s will lay out her blueprint today for the year ahead. Read what it is.

With the focus firmly on the Territory’s economic growth Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro has green and red tape in her sights

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro’s has pledged to give Territorians a year of action, certainty and security.

More than 550 key business people, and industry stakeholders will cram into the Darwin Convention Centre Monday morning to hear the Chief Minister, backed by her full cabinet, lay out her blueprint for the year ahead.

With the focus firmly on the Territory’s economic growth Ms Finocchiaro will have green and red tape in her sights.

The NT News last week revealed third-party merit reviews, which have been a significant handbrake to a number of projects, were about to have the blow torch taken to them.

That is expected to happen as early as this week in the year’s first Parliamentary sittings of 2025, a move certain to spark a confrontation with environmental groups.

Mrs Finocchiaro is expected to announce government plans to introduce several other new measures in the first Parliamentary Sittings of the year, including the introduction of the Territory Coordinator Bill.

Lia Finocchiaro Chief Minister of the Northern Territory. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“We cannot afford uncertainty and confusion for potential investors at a time when private sector spending in the Territory is lagging,” Ms Finocchiaro said.

“Our government will take action this year to get our economy moving forward.

“Territorians will also see further action on the economy this week through the passing of our Payroll Tax reforms, which will back our small businesses and deliver thousands of dollars in savings, which they can reinvest in growing our economy.

“This year will be defined by three key attributes: action, certainty, and security.

“In 2025, we will deliver a critical response to our government’s plan to reduce crime, rebuild the economy and restore our lifestyle.”

The Chief Minister said the debt legacy is on track to hit $15 billion by 2028-29 which emphasised the importance of her agenda to grow the NT economy.

The Chief Minister’s speech will be live-streamed on her Facebook page from 9am.

Mrs Finocchiaro will also outline her government’s focus areas to further reduce crime in 2025, including:

• Police Retention bonus to keep experienced cops on the beat.

• Remote Police Infrastructure Plan to meet critical needs.

• Better police powers.

• Further progress on the Corrections Master Plan.

“Our government is also committed to securing our lifestyle for years to come and Territorians can expect action in 2025 to deliver even more of what they love such as camping, fishing and hunting,” said Mrs Finocchiaro.

“We’ll also be rolling out our cost-of-living measures this year, as we promised, because we know Territorians are struggling with the rise in cost of living and every dollar counts.”

These programs include:

• Free driver’s licenses.

• Free swimming lessons for all primary school students from Years 1-6.

• Free meningococcal B vaccinations for babies under 2 and adolescents 14-19 years.

• Homegrown Territory grants of up to $50,000 to build a new home.

• Doubling the rooftop solar battery bonus.

Mrs Finocchiaro said thousands of Territorians have already taken advantage of new cost-of-living schemes.

Originally published as Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro pledge’s a year of ‘action, certainty and security’