Today, the Northern Territory (NT) parliament passed the Territory Coordinator Bill. The Country Liberal Party (CLP) government takes pride in the fact that it’s the “most important economic reform” in the last ten years. This legislation was passed after integrating eight out of 25 recommendations from a parliamentary scrutiny committee dominated by the CLP. The bill is included in a wider legislative package aimed to overhaul the NT’s economic and regulatory landscape. It has fueled a firestorm of controversy and criticism, notably from green lobbyists and opposition MPs.
A Major Economic Reform
Territory Coordinators are relatively new to our organization. As a statutory officer, she possesses far-reaching power of judgment over projects deemed economically significant. More notably, this bill gives the Territory Coordinator Minister the power to override 32 acts of parliament in the name of more efficient regulation. In addition, the minister has the power to change or waive other NT legislation dealing with major projects.
Intended to simplify regulatory procedures, the bill is a key part of the CLP’s economic platform. The government claims that this legislation will enable more large scale development and spur significant economic development in the NT. It’s done it while taking away the rights of third parties. This means that now, environmental organisations are unable to successfully challenge harmful government decisions at the NT’s Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NTCAT). This provision of the bill has raised alarm about its chilling effect on environmental review.
Legislative Process and Opposition
The passage of the Territory Coordinator Bill followed an intense day of debate, with Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) remaining in chambers until 1:30 a.m. Through adult behaviour and dedication, the CLP succeeded in moving the bill forward even under fire from Labor and independent MLAs. The bill’s ability to hinder future challenges against developments, including controversial projects like Beetaloo Basin fracking, contributed significantly to the opposition’s concerns.
Environmental groups from across the political spectrum have been fierce critics, noting that they were not meaningfully consulted before the bill’s reintroduction. Their biggest worry is the bill’s language about. It removes their time to contest government decisions at NTCAT, removing their power to shape development projects that may greatly affect the environment.
Broader Legislative Agenda
The introduction of the Territory Coordinator Bill was part of a broader legislative effort focused on reforming NT’s economic and regulatory landscape. This comprehensive package of legislation, adopted during a tumultuous two-week parliamentary sitting, seeks to simplify regulatory processes for highly significant projects. The government maintains that these reforms are essential to fuel and sustain economic growth and development throughout the territory.
Proponents say that these changes put economic development ahead of environmental regulation and remove public voices from the permitting process. Stakeholders are concerned by the sweeping enforcement powers and penalties afforded to the Territory Coordinator Minister. They are afraid that these special powers will trump hard-won local environmental protections.
