Arabic version: يان يستشهد بمشاريع الموارد في توقعات ديون الإقليم الشمالي

According to ABC News, Northern Territory Treasurer Bill Yan says progress on mining, gas and housing initiatives has strengthened the Territory’s fiscal position, two years after the Country Liberal Party government was elected on a promise to rebuild the economy.

Yan said the government had flattened debt-growth forecasts and made the Territory more attractive to major industry by providing an environment for investors. He cited the HomeGrown Territory Grant housing scheme and eight mining projects, including the Beetaloo Basin, which is due to begin pumping gas to Darwin next week. Yan said the government would support planning for water and gas pipelines from Beetaloo to potentially power data centres.

He also highlighted the Nolans Rare Earths Project, which reached a final investment decision in May, and said KGL Resources was nearing a final investment decision for its Jervois Copper Project. Yan pointed to Core Lithium’s Finniss project and the revived Mount Todd gold mine. The projects pre-date the CLP’s 2024 election win.

Independent economist Saul Eslake said increased mining activity was largely shaped by factors governments cannot control, including commodity prices and companies’ ability to secure finance. He said governments could provide a clear, reasonably certain investment environment and encourage exploration on terms acceptable to people living on the land, including traditional owners.

The CLP’s second budget showed a modest improvement in the debt position compared with its first year in office, but projected net debt is expected to surpass $12.5 billion by the end of 2026-27. Labor’s 2024 budget had projected debt of $12.2 billion by then. Eslake said favourable factors including the Territory’s federal GST share and national housing and employment trends had improved the bottom line, while he argued government policy decisions had made it worse.