Step-In Powers for the Territory Coordinator to Make Statutory Decisions
Territory Coordinator Bill 2025
Topics
government oversight infrastructure planning land access land development public entity cooperation
Introduced by: The Hon Lia Finocchiaro MLA (CLP) — Chief Minister
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:
Lia Finocchiaro CLP
“Madam Speaker, I present a Bill titled Territory Coordinator Bill 2025, Serial 17, and I table the explanatory statement. I move that the Bill be now read a first time.”
Steven Edgington CLP
“Madam Speaker, I move that the Bill be now read a second time.”
Selena Uibo ALP
“Madam Speaker, a strong, prosperous economy is critical to the Territory’s future and ensures that Territorians have an opportunity to thrive in business or a career, can support their families and loved ones and can enjoy a good quality of life. It means that the government can invest in better health, education, roads and infrastructure as well as essential services.”
Gerard Maley CLP
“Madam Speaker, I commend this Bill to the Assembly. I will correct a few things that the Leader of the Opposition spoke about. She said that the opposition spoke to people in industry and that the cost of doing business in the Territory is too high. Labor had eight years to listen to industry and do something about the cost of doing business, and it failed. The former Labor government did nothing.”
“Madam Speaker, Aboriginal people know what a land grab looks like. We know what no consultation and disempowerment look like. Everyone can see that this Bill is about a land and water grab at the cost of landowners’ rights, the environment and the entire Northern Territory community.”
Bill Yan CLP
“Madam Speaker, I support the Territory Coordinator Bill. This morning I was proud to stand with the Minerals Council and unveil our Rebuilding the Economy strategy. This strategy sums up the work we are already doing and builds upon our government’s focus as we work towards making the Territory the best place to do business in Australia and globally. We have already commenced some of that work.”
Tanzil Rahman CLP
“Madam Speaker, since being elected to government I have taken every opportunity to address all matters economic in this House repeatedly, noting that they have long been neglected by this parliament. I have spoken at length in support of the model for the Territory Coordinator, notably on 27 November. To reiterate in summary, major projects have been in a state of limbo for a long time.”
Khoda Patel CLP
“Madam Speaker, the Northern Territory is full of opportunity--vast land, rich resources and hardworking people--but for too long we have been held back not by a lack of vision, but by slow approvals and excessive red tape. It is costing Territorians due to lots of bureaucratic delays. We have lost billions in investment because projects were stuck in government paperwork. A $1.”
Chanston Paech ALP
“Madam Speaker, today is a sad day for the Territory, for country and for the Territory’s waterways. This legislation is fundamentally flawed. No amount of glitter and fanfare and no number of press releases can make this shine. This Bill is the turd of the Territory because it undermines important protections and regulation.”
“Madam Speaker, I support the passage of this important legislation which will help rebuild our Territory economy. Let us not forget that is the focus of this legislation. I will try to be succinct because I know we have a busy day; other people will speak, and we will go into the important consideration in detail stage. Let me focus on three key points.”
Clinton Howe CLP
“Mr Deputy Speaker, it has become clear to me through this afternoon’s debate that Labor is once again forgetting about the common individual--the average mum and dad who are struggling and being crushed by a devastated economy and a cost-of-living crisis.”
Matthew Kerle CLP
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I support this Bill. I agree with the contribution from the Member for Drysdale--or the Poet of Palmerston, as we are coming to call him because of his eloquent contributions--that everything costs money. In my electorate of Blain the people in Woodroffe would love to have shade cloth over Woodroffe Park next to the school, but that costs money.”
Laurie Zio CLP
“Mr Deputy Speaker, the Territory Coordinator Bill is a game-changing proposal that will redefine how we attract, facilitate and expedite major investments. This transformative initiative will propel the Northern Territory into a new era of economic prosperity and development. For far too long we have watched the Territory’s potential slip through our fingers.”
Dheran Young ALP
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Territory Labor has made it clear that it supports streamlined and efficient processes for progressing the sustainable development of the Territory economy. A strong economy underpins everything that is done in the Territory from our tourism operators to our creative sectors and local small businesses on the main street.”
Andrew Mackay CLP
“Mr Deputy Speaker, when the Chief Minister said that this would be a year of action, certainty and security she was not joking. The year of action, certainty and security is well and truly underway. Today is an exciting day for the Territory. We are doing something that no jurisdiction has had the faith and trust to put in place.”
Manuel Brown ALP
“Mr Deputy Speaker, that was entertaining, wasn’t it? I join my colleagues in opposing the Territory Coordinator Bill 2025. Mr Edgington: Shame! Mr BROWN: Do you talk to your countrymen? He does not. This Bill hands way too much power to the unelected official, undermining transparency and threatening environmental and cultural protections that Territorians have fought hard to secure.”
“Madam Speaker, I support the Territory Coordinator Bill in accordance with the government’s election commitment. This decision represents a clear departure from the policies of the previous administration and underscores our commitment to implementing effective decision-making to address the complex investment decisions and significantly lead to the enhancement of the Territory’s lifestyle.”
“Madam Speaker, I will pick out some things that I heard from those opposite about the Territory Coordinator Bill. I heard time and again that they believe the vast majority of Territorians are against this Bill. It is simply not true. There were about 560-odd submissions in writing and about 30-odd sessions throughout the Territory.”
Robyn Cahill CLP
“Madam Speaker, I rise to speak on behalf of me and my husband, Professor Len Notaras AO, in memory of Hon Austin Asche AC, KC. 1090 --- Debates and Questions Tuesday 18 March 2025 Meeting No 13 Austin was the Administrator of the Northern Territory when I first moved here in 1999.”
Joshua Burgoyne CLP
“Madam Speaker, the Territory Coordinator Bill is the Bill the Territory needs to finally begin progressing many of the projects that we so often heard about from the Gunner government, but never materialised: Imagine how ...”