2025: A Year of Action, Certainty, and Security
10 February 2025
The NT Chamber Vice President, Natalia Bell was proud to represent the Territory's businesses in opening the event '2025: Year Ahead Briefing' by the Chief Minister.
"For 67 years the Northern Territory Chamber of Commerce has represented Territory businesses. We are the Territory’s largest business membership association with over 1000 members, with representation through our regional committees in Katherine, Tennant Creek, Alice Springs and Nhulunbuy, as well as head office in Darwin.
Our role is to support, advocate, and champion the interests of business across the Territory and to create an environment where organisations of all sizes can thrive and contribute to the economic prosperity, growth and resilience of the region.
Alongside our fellow peak industry bodies, such as the Master Builders Association and the Darwin Major Business Group along with the many others present here today, we stand for the entrepreneurs, employers, investors, innovators and all those who work tirelessly to represents the businesses that drive our economy and play a crucial role in building a vibrant, dynamic, and sustainable Territory.
For businesses to thrive, we need a government that listens and responds, and that understands the needs of micro-businesses, SMEs, and large-scale long-term projects alike."
2025: A Year of Action, Certainty, and Security
The Northern Territory Government has announced 2025 will be a Year of Action, delivering certainty and security for Territorians.
In a keynote speech at the Darwin Convention Centre today, Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro outlined what the next 12 months will look like for the new Northern Territory Government, highlighting the need for economic growth.
“In 2025, we will deliver a critical response to our government’s plan to reduce crime, rebuild the economy and restore our lifestyle.
In her speech, Chief Minister Finocchiaro announced the government will introduce several new measures in the first Parliament Sittings of the year, beginning tomorrow, including the introduction of the Territory Coordinator Bill, the removal of third-party merit reviews from the Petroleum, Planning and Water Acts, and payroll tax cuts.
Territorians will also see further action on the economy this week through the passing of our payroll tax cuts, which will back our small businesses and deliver thousands of dollars in savings, which they can re-invest in growing our economy.”
Chief Minister Finocchiaro also outlined her government’s focus areas to further reduce crime in 2025, building on the NTG's new Reducing Crime laws passed last year, including:
- Retention bonus to keep experienced cops on the beat.
- Remote Police Infrastructure Plan to meet critical needs.
- Better police powers.
- Expanded police drone operations.
- Further progress on the Corrections Master Plan.
- Design work on new women’s prison, boot camps and work camps.
- Reform to youth justice to help address the root causes of crime and create real pathways for young people to turn their lives around.
- $36 million this year in funding for domestic, family and sexual violence (DFSV).
- Expansion of the Circuit Breaker program to protect children and intervene at the first signs of trouble to keep them safe.
- Expansion of the School Attendance Officers program.
- Action on alcohol addiction including treatment programs for problem drunks.
“We’ll also be rolling out our cost-of-living measures this year, as we promised, because we know Territorians are struggling with the rise in cost of living and every dollar counts.” These programs include:
- Free driver’s licenses.
- Free swimming lessons for all primary school students from Years 1-6.
- Free meningococcal B vaccinations for babies under 2 and adolescents 14-19 years.
- HomeGrown Territory grants of up to $50,000 to build a new home
- Doubling the rooftop solar battery bonus.
Source: NTG
