Tourism NT Becomes Tourism and Events NT With More Power Over Hospitality, and Fines or Jail for Leaking Secrets
Tourism NT Amendment (Integration of NTMEC) Bill 2025
Topics
event management events and exhibitions exhibitions government accountability hospitality information disclosure information sharing privacy tourism
Introduced by: The Hon Marie-Clare Boothby MLA (CLP)
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
The Debate
What different members said when this bill was debated:
“Madam Speaker, I present a Bill titled Tourism NT Amendment (Integration of NTMEC) Bill 2025, Serial 42, and table the explanatory statement. I move that the Bill be now read a first time.”
Robyn Cahill CLP
“Madam Speaker, I present the ministerial report on Backing Small Business, notified on 13 October 2025. Backing Territory businesses is in our Finocchiaro CLP government’s DNA.”
Selena Uibo ALP
“Madam Speaker, I welcome the minister’s report. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, making up nearly 95% of all businesses across the Northern Territory. Behind each of these businesses are Territorians--individuals, mums and dads, families, friends and business partners--who make it all work and have displayed enormous drive, ambition and vision to set their own path.”
Laurie Zio CLP
“Madam Speaker, I affirm this government’s unwavering commitment to the powerhouse of our economy: Territory businesses. They are the heart, backbone and the beating pulse of prosperity in the Northern Territory. Backing them is not just policy for us; like the Minister for Trade, Business and Asian Relations said in her statement, it is in our government’s DNA.”
Bill Yan CLP
“Madam Speaker, I thank Minister Cahill for highlighting the often unsung heroes of our economy, our small business owners. They are the risk takers, innovators and doers, working hard to make a great life and get ahead for themselves and their families. As Treasurer I am acutely aware that the nearly 17,000 small businesses that call the Northern Territory home are the lifeblood of our economy.”
“Madam Speaker, as a longtime champion of our small and medium business sector I am pleased and happy to speak in support of the ministerial report. I congratulate Minister Cahill for updating the Assembly on our government’s efforts to back small business--fantastic!”
Matthew Kerle CLP
“Madam Speaker, I am proud to speak on backing small business, which is in this government’s DNA because the CLP is the Territory party. We support the Territory and have done for many years--coming on 50 years now--and always will. My dad was a small-business man. My mum was a teacher at Batchelor and dad was a farmer. He started off in cattle, but the market changed.”
Oly Carlson CLP
“Madam Speaker, the ministerial report for Trade, Business and Asian Relations highlights how the Country Liberal government is backing Territory businesses, especially small businesses that form the heart of our local economy. As a Territory-born person this is all I have ever known. Small businesses are the heart of our Territory. Businesses are not just numbers on a page.”
Dheran Young ALP
“Madam Speaker, I wish Justine a happy birthday. Thank you for everything you do in this place. I hope you have a great day. The Territory Labor opposition will support the Tourism NT Amendment (Integration of NTMEC) Bill 2025 because the tourism and events sector is vital to the Northern Territory economy.”
“Madam Speaker, I contribute to the Bill as a key stakeholder through my Department of People, Sport and Culture. Historically, many sporting events were a key feature of the department of Sports’ remit prior to the establishment of the NT Major Events Company, so there is an intrinsic historical link between these agencies which continues today in many forms.”
Chanston Paech ALP
“Madam Speaker, I was not planning to speak, but it is a good opportunity to talk about Central Australia and the importance of tourism in the southern region of the Territory, the heart of the country. From the outset, I acknowledge and support the changes. Anything that works to streamline and enhance potential opportunities for the future is incredibly important.”