Here you can read useful publications by third parties on issues affecting the NT
Running to stand still? Finding levers to address population shrinking in the Northern Territory of Australia (Taylor & Dyrting)
Population shrinkage in rural Europe has echoes with demographic trends in Northern Australia, where some areas have experienced low growth or shrinkage for around a decade due to negative internal migration outcomes. Despite targeted policies to stimulate long-term growth, regions in Northern Australia struggle to attract and retain the ‘right’ sort of populations. Emblematic of this, the Northern Territory, Australia's most sparsely settled jurisdiction, had 32 successive quarters of negative internal migration leading up to the COVID pandemic and exchanges a fifth of its population each year through migration, births and deaths. It imports large numbers of early-career aged workers, most of whom leave in their 30s or early 40s. Constant inflows of new residents with a considerable risk of near-future out-migration sees the population ‘Running to stand still,’ with upticks in jobs and economic activity leading to future poor migration outcomes. Governments are interested in economic levers for internal migration and in this study, we analyse long-term data for key macroeconomic variables for the Northern Territory to ascertain their significance as leading correlates for improved net interstate migration. We find residential property prices are most significant but, against perceptions, jobs vacancies do not positively influence internal migration outcomes. The results emphasises the Northern Territory Government's limited volition to turn-around migration through its own macroeconomic settings, leaving it subject to external conditions. Constraints in economic levers mean other facets for attraction and retention, such as qualitative elements like quality education, lifestyle facilities, enhancing social networks and promoting the Territory as a place for multi-residence workers or retirees need to be considered in developing a holistic approach to population stagnation.
Budget 2025-26 Full Papers (NTG)
The budget is the NTG key financial, economic and policy statement and is released once a year. The budget papers are an important resource for Territorians – they provide insight and transparency into how the government is allocating taxpayer dollars. This file is a compendium of the full papers – the NT Economy Book, Budget and Regional Overview, Speech and Appropriation Bill, Budget Strategy and Outlook, Agency Budget Statements, and Infrastructure Program.
Voluntary Assisted Dying Final Report 2024 (NTG)
In August 2023, an independent Expert Advisory Panel was established by the Chief Minister of the NT to inquire into and report on developing VAD legislation in the NT. This report presents the consultation process, findings, and recommendations of the Panel.
Review of the Migration System Final Report 2023 (Cth)
On 2 September 2022, the Minister for Home Affairs announced three eminent persons would lead a comprehensive review of Australia's migration system to ensure it better meets existing challenges and sets a clear direction for the coming decades. This Final Report, informed by public submissions and consultation, captures valuable insights, analysis, international comparisons and directions for reform.
Territory Economic Reconstruction Commission Final Report 2020 (NTG)
This report, created in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, details the Territory Economic Reconstruction Commission’s advice on the key strategies, approaches and actions required to increase private sector investment, leading to industry growth, business opportunities and sustained and sustainable jobs growth for the NT.
The Economic and Cultural Value of Live Music in the Northern Territory (MusicNT)
Valuing the economic and cultural contribution of live music is a complex task. Live music impacts physical, human, social, and symbolic capital at both an individual and community level. This research articulates how some of this complexity is converted by users into a set of economically valuable outputs that impact upon the welfare of society, providing for the first time, a detailed examination of the live music sector in the Northern Territory.
Lectures on Northern Territory Public Law (Graham Nicholson)
This book, written by Australia’s leading expert on the constitutional structure and history of the self-governing Northern Territory, examines the Territory’s unique constitutional position in Australian law. It takes the reader on a journey through that constitutional landscape and highlights the matters that have achieved particular prominence, including the relationship between territories and constitutional guarantees, the constitutional position of the Northern Territory judiciary, and the revival of proposals for a grant of statehood.