New NT powers opposed
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New laws in the NT promise progress but could bulldoze rights on the way.
A proposed law to create a powerful new Territory Coordinator role has ignited intense debate, with critics warning it could weaken Indigenous land rights and fast-track controversial projects such as fracking and nuclear waste storage.
The legislation has been described by environmental groups and legal experts as a sweeping overreach that risks undermining established protections for communities and the environment.
The draft bill, released in October 2024, aims to simplify processes for major developments by granting significant powers to an appointed Territory Coordinator and the Chief Minister.
The government argues that the changes are vital to cut red tape and attract investment to the Territory.
However, detractors claim it prioritises private profits over public benefit and leaves critical decisions in the hands of an unelected official.
The Central Land Council (CLC) and advocacy groups like Lock the Gate have strongly opposed the bill, raising concerns about the lack of meaningful safeguards for Indigenous landholders and the environment.
The CLC’s submission to the consultation process (PDF) highlighted fears that economic prosperity is being pursued at the expense of cultural and environmental values.
The group pointed out that Indigenous communities are often disproportionately affected by large-scale projects, facing both direct and downstream impacts on sacred sites and natural resources.
Lock the Gate spokesperson Louis Boyle-Bryant has described the bill as fundamentally “un-Territorian”.
“This legislation gives an unelected bureaucrat the ability to steamroll the rights of Territorians. It will trample protections and grant multinational fracking companies the right to commit open slather destruction right across the heart of the NT,” he said.
The timing of the public consultation process has also been called into question, as it coincided with holidays at the end of 2024, a period when many people were unavailable to engage.
Among the most contentious provisions is the Coordinator’s ability to override existing environmental and planning frameworks, including powers to bypass the Environmental Protection Authority and traditional consultation requirements.
Land access rights for gas pipeline projects could also see significant changes, with the bill enabling companies to bring machinery onto properties without the consent of leaseholders or landowners.
Section 68 of the draft law allows the Minister to issue exemption notices, potentially removing the need for companies to secure consent from Traditional Owners before proceeding with certain developments.
This clause has fuelled accusations that the bill disregards the principle of free, prior, and informed consent, which is central to protecting Indigenous land rights.
The NT Government insists the legislation will strengthen the region’s economic prospects without undermining rights or protections.
It argues that the Territory Coordinator would simply act as a point of contact and streamline processes to avoid delays caused by overlapping regulatory requirements.
Yet this assurance has done little to placate critics.
Many worry the powers granted to the Coordinator are so broad that they could undermine decades of legislative safeguards designed to ensure balanced decision-making.
Public consultation on the bill has now concluded, with widespread calls for the government to rethink its approach.
The final version of the bill is expected to be presented to parliament later this year.
