Work opportunities for Territorians

Budget 2024 creates employment opportunities for Territorians through support for the tourism industry, attracting investment, promoting economic growth and facilitating workforce development through training and employment opportunities.

Attracting and assisting investment

The Territory Government continues to ensure investment conditions in the Territory are attractive by facilitating future economic growth and promoting work opportunities. Budget 2024 includes:

• $30 million over three years to support activation of the Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct and development of the Tennant Creek to Darwin infrastructure corridor
• $15.5 million to develop the Marine Industry Park – Precinct 1, to support the Darwin ship lift project
• $9.5 million per annum for Resourcing the Territory, to increase mineral and resource exploration activity and open new areas of the Territory for exploration
• $4.7 million to continue to attract private investment, maximise conversion of existing major and significant projects, and develop new advanced manufacturing opportunities
• $2.5 million toward developing a renewable hydrogen industry in the Territory
• $2 million to progress the Territory’s facilitated investments project pipeline
• $1.5 million over two years to support establishment of a carbon capture, utilisation and storage industry.

Budget 2024 also commits $0.5 million for a bronze partnership with the Commonwealth to showcase the Territory at the 2025 World Expo in Osaka, which is expected to attract over 28 million visitors, across 160 participating countries and 25 international organisations.

Remote housing

The Commonwealth and Territory governments are boosting jobs and creating more remote housing through a landmark joint $4 billion investment for housing in remote communities across the Territory.

The 10-year commitment to improve remote housing will see up to 270 homes built each year, with the goal of halving overcrowding. As well as supporting improved housing outcomes, this unprecedented investment will also create local employment opportunities and support the sustainability of Aboriginal business enterprises.

Employment support

Budget 2024 is addressing workforce shortages and supporting employment opportunities through:

• $109.2 million to support vocational education and training and ensure the skill requirements of the Territory economy are met through training, workforce growth and skilled migration initiatives
• $8.5 million for Indigenous jobs development funding, supporting Aboriginal staff working in local government service delivery.

Additionally, the Territory Government’s Local Jobs Fund, a co-investment model that supports economic transformation projects and helps business with high growth potential, provides access to capital of up to $10 million to help expand and create opportunities to generate local jobs and increase exports.

Infrastructure investment

Budget 2024 includes a commitment of more than $4.4 billion in infrastructure investment across the Territory.

In addition to supporting the delivery of core government services, improving access across the Territory and developing the economy, the projects delivered under the capital works program are also a key source of employment in the Territory’s construction industry.

Defence investment

The Master Builders’ "Billion Dollar Partnership: The Defence Report" estimates that defence is set to invest more than $6 billion over the next four years into the Territory, generating 7,640 jobs at peak construction in 2024-25, of which 4,316 jobs are expected to be directly employed as a result of the investment. A further 3,324 FTE jobs will be created or supported through the associated additional spending throughout the economy.

Tourism in the Territory

The tourism sector is worth worth $1.2 billion per annum to the Territory economy and directly employs 7,500 people. Budget 2024 includes $68.4 million to support tourism, including:

• $13 million over three years for the Territory Aviation Attraction Scheme to fund passenger rebates and airport out-of-hours opening costs
• $12.8 million for targeted tourism, business events and international education marketing
• $3 million to support tourism recovery in international markets
• $3 million for the Visitor Experience Enhancement Program
• $1.9 million for Aboriginal tourism industry development activities.

Screen industry

Budget 2024 supports the screen industry with funding of $5.2 million in 2024-25, including an additional $3 million over two years from 2024-25 to support the Screen Territory Funding Program, which includes the Production Attraction Incentive Program, story and games development, project production, career development and industry partnerships.

Screen Territory has a strong pipeline of screen productions spanning feature films, series and documentaries which are looking to film in the Territory over the next few years.

Printable fact sheet

Get a printable copy of the work opportunities for Territorians fact sheet PDF (517.3 KB)