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Northern Territory Chief Minister Eva Lawler says a key priority of her government will be to get more people working in a bid to solve the territory's economic and social issues ahead of the August 2024 election.
In a speech on Monday morning Ms Lawler, who replaced Natasha Fyles as chief minister in December, gave the clearest indication yet her priorities in the top job and her "vision" for the Northern Territory.
These priorities, Ms Lawler said, included getting more Aboriginal people in work, reviewing the NT Youth Justice Act, addressing community safety concerns, backing the controversial Middle Arm development precinct and relieving cost-of-living pressures.
"A key priority for me is for all Territorians who can work, to be working," she said.
"It is important for the future of the territory to have every Territorian living in a remote community to be working in that community.
"Aboriginal people need to be working in, and owning businesses and industries on country and across the territory to grow wealth, improve health outcomes, to get kids to school and to truly close the gap in Aboriginal outcomes."
Ms Lawler said she had recently held discussions with Jawoyn, Julalikari, Gumatj and Rirratjingu people, who shared her focus about getting "more Aboriginal people working".
"Aboriginal children need to know they can be whatever they choose to be ... I want our kids — all our kids — to feel that their choices are unlimited," she said.
"I’m not proposing an Aboriginal-only policy.
"I am saying the [Aboriginal employment] numbers need massive improvement."
Ms Lawler said she would be calling on the federal government to reform the Community Development Program — the federally-run remote work-for-the-dole program.
"I have heard from people in the regions and remote communities — they want real work and I want that too. I will call on the Commonwealth to reform CDP," she said.
Ms Lawler highlighted Middle Arm, the defence industry and the delayed ship lift project as opportunities for Territorians looking for work.
"I don’t want to give those jobs away to FIFOs. I want our own people stepping up," she said,
"We have the people. Right here. We need to train and develop Territorians for these jobs."
Ms Lawler reiterated her full support of developing the Middle Arm gas and manufacturing precinct, which critics have called an "extraordinary fossil fuel subsidy".
"I will go in to bat hard for this project because Middle Arm means too much to the territory for anyone to stand in its way," she said.
Youth Justice Act to be reviewed
In her speech, Ms Lawler said her government would undertake a full review of the Youth Justice Act.
"I know we need to do more to get at-risk young people on the right track," she said.
"This review will allow everyone in our community to have a say, to put forward ideas and play their part in creating a safer Northern Territory."
Ms Lawler said that while the review was underway she had instructed the public service operate three new residential youth facilities, in Darwin, Alice Springs and Tennant Creek, to provide courts with "more options for sentencing young people to a program".
"Programs that will provide education and training to help young people transition into work, and to provide the support they need to engage in learning and be positive members of our community," Ms Lawler said.
"Too many generations of Territorians are not working. And when that happens, some people resort to crime."
Housing, red tape, power bills in focus
Ms Lawler said the upcoming Northern Territory budget would see more than $200 million invested in cost-of-living relief measures, including a guarantee that residential power prices would "never go above" the consumer price index.
She highlighted the government's granting of "major project status" to green hydrogen project Total Eren and mining company Avenira as good news for the Northern Territory economy, as well as welcoming private sector investment from gas giant Santos.
Ms Lawler announced a new online service — Territory Services — which she said would significantly reduce red tape for business.
Territory Services was, Ms Lawler said, a "one-stop digital doorway to radically simplify more than 60 online transactions for businesses, permits, driver licenses, trade and professional licences, liquor licences and hospitality".
The NT government also planned to extend Darwin's Casuarina Coastal Reserve by 34 hectares, Ms Lawler announced.
She also flagged that the area could one day become a national park and that its future would soon come up for public consultation.