Leaders Share Industry Vision Ahead of Election

Chief Minister, Eva Lawler Leaders

There’s nowhere in Australia that provides the incredible lifestyle that we love here in the Territory.

I’m Territory-born and Territory-bred. I love the Territory and I will be here until the day I die. I am proud to be a Territorian. I understand the issues we face as a Territory – it can be tough at times.

Nothing matters more than keeping Territorians safe.

And we have a duty to keep our police safe by making sure they’ve got the numbers they need.

Budget 2024 invests an extra $570 million over five years into the Northern Territory Police Force to deliver on my common sense plan to lower crime and improve community safety.

The funding includes delivering an additional 200 sworn officers and 71 non-sworn operational support staff across the Territory.

We have also delivered ongoing funding for the Darwin unit of the Territory Safety Division – which is around $16 million each year –for 52 sworn officers to be based out of the Nightcliff police station and a unit of the Territory Safety Division has also been established in Alice Springs.

The police funding boost includes $125 million for a five-year rolling police infrastructure program that will deliver new and upgraded police stations, watch houses and housing, particularly in remote and regional areas.

We’re also delivering a record infrastructure budget, with a $4.4 billion program. More than $2.3 billion of that will be invested in transport infrastructure – with the majority of that used to upgrade and seal roads right across the Territory.

Importantly, training is also a major focus in Budget 2024, with more than $109 million invested in vocational education and training, workforce growth and skilled workforce initiatives to support business and industry build the Territory’s workforce.

The Territory Labor Government invested $280,000 into the Motor Trade Association mentoring program for 2 years, to help retain more automotive apprentices and address industry skill shortages.

The Northern Territory Automotive Apprenticeship Support Program (NTAAPS) was launched in 2022, by the Motor Trade Association and the Territory Labor Government.

The NTAAPS is a targeted mentoring program for automotive apprentices in the Northern Territory. The funding supports the employment of a dedicated mentor to actively engage and support apprentices and their employers.

To date, 169 apprentices have signed up to the program with an overall retention rate of 96.5 per cent.

As of April 2024 there are 456 automotive apprentices in the NT, which is a 3.87 per cent increase compared to the same time last year. Of these apprentices, 69 are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and 29 are female.

There’s no doubt that the economy has been patchy over recent years but we are on the cusp of significant economic growth over the next couple of years.

The Territory’s economy is predicted to grow by 2.3 per cent in 2024-25 before accelerating to 7.1 per cent growth in the following year.

Mineral exploration expenditure in the NT continues to boom, recording $228.1 million in 2023 – up 14 per cent on the 2022 figure.

There’s no doubt many small business owners have had to navigate through a patchy economy in recent years, but solid foundations for future growth and success have been laid.

I’d like to acknowledge that the members of the Motor Trade Association play a huge role in keeping Territorians moving and able to get around our beautiful but vast Territory.

Thank you for all the work that you and your staff do every day to ensure Territorians can safely get where they need to go.

Opposition Leader, Lia Finocchiaro MLA

Territorians choose to live here because we are different and we are proud of it.

We love our lifestyle. We love our boating, camping, fishing, and hunting. The Territory has some of the most amazing landscapes in the world. Our unmatched lifestyle is a major reason why we live here.

Tourists come to enjoy our lifestyle and explore all the amazing parks, rivers, water holes, waterfalls, rock formations and culture.

We know that to enjoy our Territory lifestyle we need good road infrastructure to get out and explore and enjoy the Territory. It is also fundamental to the NT economy and our future prosperity.

We know truck drivers are forced to use corrugated roads to transport product to market from remote mines, farms and cattle stations, which costs industry and the economy precious time and money.

The Territory’s roads have become dilapidated under a Labor government that has failed to prioritise taxpayers’ money, and actually do the bare minimum that our government is supposed to do, which includes keeping our roads in good condition.

I’ve been along the Stuart Highway down the track with the Member for Barkly, Steve Edgington, and we have stood in potholes that are more like craters where parts of the Stuart Highway has been dropped down to 40 kilometres an hour. Now this is dangerous for all vehicles, let alone trucks and caravaners. It’s totally unacceptable.

The disrespect Labor has shown Territory taxpayers and the way they have wasted your money is dragging the Territory backwards.

While Territorians are doing it tough, and restrained in the things they can afford to do, Labor is spending your money with a total lack of priorities.

The time for building above ground “underground car parks” and “shadeless” shade structures is over.

We will respect your hard earned dollar and make sure that we invest it in driving economic growth, lowering crime and reducing cost of living pressures. Labor has wasted funds on pet projects instead of the basics like improving our road network. We have an $11 billion debt with very little to show for it.

A modern, efficient, and wellmaintained road network unlocks jobs and economic opportunity for all Territorians.

The Country Liberal Party’s Plan of Action for Roads aims to better connect the NT.

Priorities under the Plan include sealing the Territory’s primary economic roads and ensuring these remain at a high standard; upgrading unsealed trucking routes, ensuring they are safe and ready for sealing into the future, bring forward already committed funding and works for upgrading of identified Roads of Strategic Importance and upgrading identified traffic trouble spots.

A CLP Government will ensure our urban road network and capacity is safe and has the best possible traffic distribution.

A core part of our Plan of Action for Roads will be opening up economic opportunity for remote Aboriginal communities by improving access to regional centres and major transport routes.

We will also move swiftly to establish the Office of Territory Coordinator which will ensure major projects are fought for, started quickly, and completed on time. Some of the important work the Territory Coordinator will do includes securing the road, rail, gas and power corridors that we will need for the future.

Only the CLP has a plan to grow our economy and make Territorians safe, including with improved roads. Our Plan of Action to grow the economy also includes payroll tax relief for small business and our new HomeGrown Territory Program where First home buyers in the Northern Territory can apply for up to $50,000 to help build a new home.

The CLP will rebuild the Territory by reducing crime and restoring our lifestyle.