Territory Coordinator, third party merit reviews top CLP agenda ahead of parliament’s return

The Country Liberal’s plan to stop ‘activist delay games’ and red tape stymieing projects in the NT will top the agenda when parliament returns this week. Here’s what else to expect.

NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro has promised this will be a year of action, certainty and security for the Territory, delivering a keynote speech at the Darwin Convention Centre on February 10, 2025. Picture: Supplied.

The Country Liberal Party’s plan to stop “activist delay games” and red tape stymieing projects in the Northern Territory will top the agenda when parliament returns this week.

On Monday, Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro delivered a keynote speech to 550 key business people, industry stakeholders, and public servants, promising “action, certainty and security”.

Economic growth was central to her blueprint for the year ahead, with plans to squash what the CLP claims are trumped up environmental challenges shaking investor confidence in the Territory.

Mrs Finocchiaro announced she would introduce the Territory Coordinator Bill and measures to remove third-party merit reviews from petroleum, planning and water projects on Tuesday, when the Legislative Assembly sits for the first time this year.

“Recent delay of projects like Barossa, Singleton and Lee Point have damaged the Territory’s reputation and economy,” she said.

NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro, joined by her cabinet at the Year of Action speech. Picture: Supplied.

“The time for lawfare and activists holding our economy to ransom is over.”

Mrs Finocchiaro said the government supported a well-regulated onshore gas industry but third party merit reviews – a recommendation from the 2018 Pepper fracking inquiry – were not being used as intended and “did not actually do anything to protect the environment”.

Over the past two decades, public investment in the Territory had grown 191 per cent, while private sector investment had increased by only 34 per cent, according to government figures.

The CLP last week scrapped the Territory’s self-imposed debt ceiling, warning the economy was on track to surpass $15bn debt in the next four years.

“We must change our course, we must chart a new direction to repair the budget, contain expenditure, grow our economy and our population,” Mrs Finocchiaro said.

This week’s sittings will also see payroll tax reforms made into law, retroactively legislating the scheme which has been in place since January 1.

Mrs Finocchiaro also flagged increased powers for police to enter premises and conduct routine drug and alcohol tests if mandated as part of an offender’s parole conditions.

Deputy Opposition Leader Dheran Young and Opposition Leader Selena Uibo said transparency and accountability of the NT government would be Labor's focus as parliament returns this week. Picture: Fia Walsh.

The opposition hedged its support for the economic reforms, expressing concern Territorians’ voices would be silenced in the interest of fast-tracking projects.

“We want to ensure that if there is fast tracking and expedition of projects here in the Northern Territory that it’s done properly,” Opposition Leader Selena Uibo said.

“We will be very concerned with any changes that ignore the voices of Territorians, cut those processes out that Territorians have to voice concerns, or (remove) safety nets to ensure that those processes are properly scrutinised.

“Nobody wants to see a cowboy government, and that’s unfortunately the way that the CLP is going.”

Ms Uibo said Labor’s focus for the sitting week would be the accountability and transparency of the government.

She questioned the CLP’s election promise to double the solar feed-in-tariff during peak times instead being offered between 3pm and 9pm.

“I’m not sure who’s producing solar energy at night time, but that is a key commitment from the CLP government for which Territorians are already expressing their anger, disappointment and hurt from a broken promise,” Ms Uibo said.

Deputy Opposition Leader Dheran Young said he was expecting dozens of residents of his Daly electorate to travel to parliament on Wednesday with a petition protesting unconfirmed cuts to Port Keats Rd upgrades.

Originally published as Territory Coordinator, third party merit reviews top CLP agenda ahead of parliament’s return