The Finocchiaro CLP Government has passed the Petroleum, Planning and Water Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 in Parliament today, paving the way for certainty and investment in the Territory’s economy.

Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment Joshua Burgoyne said the changes would remove the ability for third parties to seek merits review of decisions made under the petroleum, planning and water acts.

“To rebuild the Territory’s economy, we must provide business and industry with the confidence to invest their time and money to develop here,” said Mr Burgoyne.  

“For years, development in the Territory has been held hostage to the whims of groups with disruptive agendas who have weaponised the merits review process to delay development at all costs.”

Since 2020, there have been 18 third-party merits reviews on decisions made by the independent Controller of Water Resources under the Water Act 1992.

Almost all of the original decisions were upheld after the third-party merits review process concluded.

“These constant delay tactics have cost the NT Government and proponents significant time and money and ultimately, have damaged our economy,” said Mr Burgoyne.

“It is time for an approval to mean an approval once more, and this all ties in with our commitment for 2025 being a year of action, certainty and security."

Mr Burgoyne said the NT’s planning and environmental laws had been reformed over time to be strong and contemporary, with projects under the relevant acts subject to a range of regulatory processes, including public exhibition.

“The public exhibition process allows stakeholders and interested parties to make submissions, with all submissions required to be considered by the decision maker," he said.

“If interested parties are serious about ensuring projects are safely regulated, they should be making a dedicated effort to partake in public exhibitions, rather than wait until informed decisions are made and seeking to delay projects through the merits review process."

The common law right to judicial review will remain and any third-party merits review processes already underway will continue.

Source: Northern Territory Government Newsroom