Industry News

• Chief Minister calls for tax reform and special migration zones for Northern Australia to stimulate population growth and increase skills base.
• Growing Northern Australia will ease growth pressures on the southern states.
• Australian dream 'still alive in Territory' for families wanting to own their own home.

Tax reform and special migration zones need to be rolled out for Northern Australia to stimulate population growth and increase skills while easing growth pressures on the southern states, according to Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro.

She told the NT News Future Northern Territory 2026 summit that the moves would help ease the housing, infrastructure and service crises in the major capitals, while building capacity in Northern Australia.

The Chief Minister said that the migration settings that were applied in the southern states did not work for the Territory and Northern Australia where population and skills growth were urgently needed.

The development in the Territory of major projects including Beetaloo gas, the Arafura Nolans rare earth mines project and the Northern Marine Complex required more skilled labour for the Territory.

“While the national conversation is raging about reducing migration, because the big southern cities are straining under housing and infrastructure pressure, the Territory is different to the rest of the country,” the Chief Minister said.

“I have often said that the Territory has the answer to everything this country needs to be successful, including energy, defence, minerals, and agriculture.

“National population and workforce challenges are no different. We can play our part in easing the population pressure down south. We want more people here.  We have the space, we have the jobs, and we have the welcoming spirit and can-do attitude to make it work.”

She said it was time for Canberra to understand that different population growth, migration and tax settings were needed in the north of the country.

“The Territory shouldn’t be treated like everywhere else when it comes to migration and population policy,” the Chief Minister said.

“Under today’s migration settings, Darwin is categorised as a regional area like the Gold Coast – as if our circumstances, our labour market, and our strategic importance were the same. They are not."

She said that skilled migration filled job vacancies, turned new arrivals into Territory residents “who put down roots”, and built capacity in the North.

“We need a carve out for Northern Australia – settings built for the Territory, North Queensland, and North of WA - designed so people settle here and stay,” the Chief Minister said.

“This is essential if the nation is to kickstart growth, and be secure, successful, and prosperous in the 21^st century.”

The Chief Minister said the Zone Tax Offset, created to help Australians build the north, had effectively sat frozen for 30 years and not kept up with inflation. Today it is worth $338 dollars a year.

“Just like with migration, we need special carve outs on taxation to support investment, trade, and develop in strategic regions and industries,” she said.

“Almost every developed economy on earth uses special economic zones to accelerate economic development in areas of strategic importance.

“Australia does not. The north is where that should change, within the Constitution’s limits.”

The Finocchiaro CLP Government was focussed on attracting major investments, driving a jobs boom and bringing more people to “stay here for good” with more affordable housing and the Government’s $50,000 and $30,000 Fresh Start grants.

“The Australian dream is still alive in the Territory,” the Chief Minister said.

“While it has been priced out of southern capitals, here we have homes that young families can afford.

“It’s also one of the most liveable places in the country, with our famous Territory lifestyle.

“Darwin is the only capital city in Australia where you can earn good money, send your kids to great schools, have a big and affordable family home with enough space for a garden, a shed, and a fishing boat, and live within a 20 minute or less commute to work.”

She said the Government was unwinding “Labor’s crime crisis” and restoring the famous Territory lifestyle.

Source: Northern Territory Government

While unique and special, with huge volumes of as-yet untapped gas resources, the Northern Territory (NT) cannot be relied upon to prop up Australia's east coast market by being roped into the government's proposed gas reservation scheme.

That's according to Stephanie Berlin, the CEO of the Energy club NT, speaking today at an industry lunch in Darwin.

"A 20% reservation policy applied nationally is great on paper, but the reality is that Northern Territory is quite unique.

Stephanie Berlin | Credits: ENB

"I know we've banged on about how special and unique we are, but energy markets rely geographically on infrastructure, and essentially the NT just doesn't have the infrastructure to send gas to the east coast," she said, before suggesting the federal government could consider increased investment to provide the necessary infrastructure.

Also speaking in the Territory, Beetaloo Energy's MD Alex Underwood agreed.

Alex Underwood | Credits: ENB

"If you try to force 20% of territory production to go east, there simply isn't enough pipeline capacity in place anyway.

"We've been calling for some time for the federal government to seriously consider investing in that pipeline infrastructure to accelerate the production of those pipelines to Australia's east coast."

Berline's and Underwood's comments come as the NT government and gas industry has sent a defiant message to Canberra that the gas reservation scheme is a non-starter for the Territory unless it can support a major pipeline to transport gas from the vast Beetaloo Basin to the east coast.

Today the NT's Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro was expected to announce the government will move management of the Beetaloo to the Department of Chief Minister and Cabinet, a sign of its importance to the Territory.

However, while a pipe is definitely needed in the minds of the Territorians' leaders, the imminent opening up of the Beetaloo could change the dynamics of the whole issue.

"The reality is, with the Beetaloo sub-basin coming online and the quantum of gas that is in that basin, it really becomes irrelevant," said the Territory's trade, business and Asian relations minister Robyn Cahill.

Robyn Cahill. | Credits: ENB

"We could not use all the gas in this basin if we tried within the next 200 years…We are saying to the Australian government: we have the solution for Australia's energy security well into the future," she while on a visit to Tamboran Resource's Shenandoah South gas site.

"What we really need is a commitment to infrastructure, pipelines – we need to get that gas to the east coast, we need investors to come here."

NT planning minister Josh Burgoyne agreed, adding: "The resources we have here in the Northern Territory can power this country into the future.

Joshua Burgoyne | Credits: CLP

"But we can't do it without a pipeline. It's one thing to bring in a policy; we need a pipeline."

Source: Energy News Bulletin

Santos will drill three production ready wells at its Beetaloo Basin prospect during the next year, as the monetisation of the Territory’s gas rich province moves closer.

Tamboran Energy alone has invested more than one-billion dollars shoring up the Beetaloo Basin for production, with other large-scale investors looking to get cash flowing in as the gas flows out.

Energy panel delegates at NT News’ Future symposium called for additional pipeline infrastructure and urged caution about a gas reservation policy, while spelling out the economic benefits the Beetaloo will deliver Territorians, the nation and region.

Tamboran Resources chief financial officer Eric Dyer said the United States experience when preparing for onshore prospects is “plan earlier, faster and larger”.

“We can look at what it’s going to do for jobs, for downstream industries, for ports, for infrastructure, for power, to power data centres, for fertilisers,” he said. “There’s so many opportunites here that all we have to do is one foot in front of the other, and I think everyone else who’s investigating while we’re investing, they’ll build there.”

Weeks away from the official opening of the Sturt Plateau Pipeline connecting Tamboran’s Shenandoah South field with the Amadeus pipeline to Darwin, builder APA’s executive general manager, gas transmission and storage Sean Fleming said the company wants to build an east-west connection.

“APA’s been very focused and there’s been quite a bit of development expenditure to get the North-East Australia Pipeline concept, a large diameter, 1000 terabyte PCF a day pipeline from the heart of the Beetaloo over to a strong point on the east coast gas grid.

“From there it can go to the big domestic units down in Sydney and Melbourne, along with further investment that we’re making in the east coast to make that happen. The biggest users on the east coast ... is through the homes, and that brings the scale. If the Beetaloo happens affordably, we bring it on at scale. We’re not ignoring the north (but) we want it to be multi-user and well-built and well-sized.

“We’ve done a lot of due diligence to get ourselves comfortable, APA has spent over $100m on developing our energy now, which is a lot for an infrastructure player.”

Energy Club chief executive Stephanie Berlin urged caution from the Commonwealth before a 20 per cent gas reservation policy was applied to the Northern Territory, given its lack of connectivity with the east coast.

“The Northern Territory doesn’t have the infrastructure in place to send gas to the east coast,” she said. “We also rely on our own domestic energy supply and have a self-regulated energy market. Unless the federal government wants to throw some money into increasing our (energy) infrastructure ... but we can’t do it alone.”

Santos chief operating officer Brett Darley questioned the introduction of “retrospective” gas reservation on customers. “Not actually knowing what the ground rules are, people are always hesitant,” he said.

Uncertainty, however, hasn’t impeded the company’s exploration phase. “In the next year, we’re going to build three wells, and these aren’t exploration wells, they’re development wells. We’re going to try and drill exactly what we would do for a full-scale development.”

Darwin Port chief executive Peter Dummett said as part of the masterplan, the asset has projects totalling up to $220m awaiting progression, including $120m for storage sheds.

“The challenge around that is a business case, and with $120m for storage sheds, that’s a lot of guaranteed throughput to get a return on that investment. When I get a successful business case together I can present that to the board, and we can get approval.”

Source: The NT News

• More than 160 global business leaders, investors, and decision-makers from 12 countries have gathered in Darwin for the 2026 Northern Territory Investment Summit.
• Now in its second year, the Summit is showcasing the Territory’s pipeline of investment-ready projects across energy, critical minerals, defence, agriculture, tourism, and advanced manufacturing.
• A globally connected Territory economy means more investment, more jobs, and more opportunities for Territorians.

The Finocchiaro CLP Government has brought the world to Darwin this week, with more than 160 invited business leaders, investors, and government decision-makers from 12 countries gathering for the 2026 Northern Territory Investment Summit.

The Summit comes at a pivotal moment, with the Territory rapidly emerging as one of Australia’s most strategically significant investment destinations – delivering the projects that matter to Australia’s future and the world’s growing demand for secure supply chains, energy security, and critical minerals.

Transformative projects including the Beetaloo Sub-basin, the Arafura Rare Earths Nolans Project and the Northern Marine Complex are reshaping the region and driving economic momentum.

The Beetaloo offers opportunities across exploration, development and long-term LNG offtake and is pivotal to Australia’s sovereign energy security, while Nolans positions the Territory as a reliable long-term supplier of the rare earths powering the industries of the future.

Over the week, delegates will explore opportunities across energy, defence, mining, agriculture, tourism, digital infrastructure, space, advanced manufacturing and maritime, and take part in a series of sector-focused roundtables.

The Summit builds on the Government’s proactive investor engagement, including the Minister-led Investor Roadshow to Japan, Korea, and Taiwan earlier this year, complemented by onshore engagement with Indonesia, Vietnam, and Singapore.

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said the Territory was open for business.

"Around the world, demand is surging for the very things the Territory holds in abundance and which we can reliably deliver," the Chief Minister said.

"Nations and investors alike are searching for jurisdictions that offer political certainty, stability, and trusted partnership – and they are finding that their search leads here."

Minister for Trade, Business and Asian Relations, Robyn Cahill, said the Summit put Territory opportunities in front of the people who could back them.

“The Summit brings international investors, executives, and decision-makers together to see the scale of what’s transforming the Territory – energy, gas, critical minerals, and critical infrastructure – for themselves.

“For investors, the Territory offers what matters most: a trusted, stable, and globally competitive destination for long-term investment. This is a place of action, momentum, and delivery.”

Source: Northern Territory Government Newsroom

• Finocchiaro CLP Government will have delivered over 80% of fast-track approval reforms within 12 months from the release of the Approvals Fast-Track Taskforce’s final report.

• Fast-track reforms from the Approvals Fast Track Taskforce are designed to support government to reduce approval timeframes by 50%.

• Government launches NT Red Tape Portal to enable individuals, businesses and industry to report on regulations that create unnecessary burden, avoidable costs or delays.

The Finocchiaro CLP Government has delivered more than 50 approvals fast-track reforms to grow the Territory economy and launched a new portal designed to help further reduce red tape for business and industry.

This week marks a year since the Government promised it would deliver all 48 recommended actions "fast-tracked" for completion within 12 months from the release of the Approvals Fast-Track Taskforce’s final report.

The Government is delivering on that promise, with 58 of the 70 recommended actions expected to be completed by the 12-month deadline tomorrow (16 July).

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said her Government's ability to meet its promise had cut red tape for business and made it easier to invest in the Territory.

"When we released the Taskforce's Saying 'Yes' to Business report last year, we made a commitment to Territorians that we would act," the Chief Minister said.

"Today, we can proudly say we have delivered over and above what we committed to implementing within 12 months."

Following the Finocchiaro CLP Government’s delivery of fast-track reforms, businesses are experiencing tangible results, including:

• Taking a risk-based approach to authorising mineral exploration and extractive operations has seen approval timeframes reduced by up to 30 business days

• Introducing a digital system to permit low-risk traffic and road activities has seen assessment timeframes reduced from around 12 days to fewer than four

• Removing public notice requirements from low-risk liquor licensing applications can reduce processing times by up to 33 days

• Six licence types have had their renewal periods extended, including builders’ licences and Priority 3 food business registrations (small-scale or home-based scale), which have already benefited more than 100 operators

• In planning, public consultation has been removed for low-risk applications saving around 14 days in cases where consultation has already taken place at earlier stages.

Meanwhile, the Government is today launching the NT Red Tape Portal as a way to give individuals, businesses and industry a stronger voice in the crackdown on red tape, unnecessary burden and avoidable cost or delay.

Feedback received through the Portal at haveyoursay.nt.gov.au/ntredtapeportal will help Government identify opportunities to streamline regulation, improve government processes and reduce unnecessary regulatory burden across the Territory.

“Alongside the fast-track approvals reforms the Finocchiaro CLP Government has delivered, this tool will give investors even more certainty and incentive to put their faith – and their job-making money – in the Territory," the Chief Minister said.

Source: NT Government Newsroom

Since its commissioning in 1986, the 1,650km Amadeus Gas Pipeline has served as the backbone of the NT’s energy system, delivering reliable gas to communities, industry, and power stations across the region.

Today, the Amadeus Gas Pipeline plays an even greater strategic role. It helps connect the Northern Territory with eastern Australian markets and lays the foundation for future energy security. With the new Sturt Plateau Pipeline soon to deliver Beetaloo gas to help keep the lights on across the Territory, and early planning underway for the proposed North to East Australia Pipeline, we’re building on four decades of reliable infrastructure to meet future energy demands.

Read the full article exploring how APA is advancing the NT’s energy network, supporting regional development, and securing Australia’s energy future : 

APA’s plans to secure energy for Australia.pdf

• Carpentaria-5H (“C-5H”) IP30 flow testing is complete, achieving a peak rate of >14 TJ / day, an average rate over the 30-days testing of 6.9 TJ / day (IP30) and an exit rate of 6.7 TJ / day.
• A sustained production profile was maintained across the entire C-5H testing program, as demonstrated by latest exit rate of 6.7 TJ / day compared to the exit rate of the previous test of 6.3 TJ / day. This supports the potential long-term gas deliverability of the resource.
• The C-5H well is currently shut-in and will be tied in for production along with the Carpentaria-2H and Carpentaria-3H wells.

“The C-5H results are another important milestone for Beetaloo Energy as we continue our transition from an exploration and appraisal company to a gas producer. The well has now delivered stable production performance across an extended testing period, providing further confidence in the quality of the Velkerri Shale at Carpentaria. Importantly, C-5H continued to demonstrate strong and consistent gas rates during clean-up, highlighting the quality of the reservoir and supporting our previously estimated recoverable gas resource at the well location. As we move closer to commissioning the Carpentaria Gas Plant and achieving first gas sales from the Pilot Project, we are increasingly focused on converting this resource opportunity into long-term value for shareholders.” ⎯ Alex Underwood, Managing Director 

CARPENTARIA-5H (C-5H)

As previously announced, IP30 flow testing commenced on 11 June 2026. The well opened with an initial gas rate of >14 TJ / day before settling to an average 30-day (IP30) rate of 6.9 TJ / day. The well exhibited a low rate of decline over the 30 days of testing, with an exit flow rate of 6.7 TJ / day.

Since completion of the C-5H hydraulic stimulation in July 2025, the well has demonstrated a progressive clean-up through the successive flowback and production testing campaigns. During this IP30 production period, water production declined significantly from approximately 1,300 barrels per day to around 440 barrels per day and continued to decrease throughout the test. The extended clean up period reflects the substantially larger completion design of Carpentaria-5H (“C-5H”), which incorporates a longer lateral section and approximately twice the stimulation fluid intensity of the earlier Carpentaria-2H (“C-2H”) and Carpentaria-3H (“C-3H”) wells, necessitating a longer-duration and higher-volume flowback programme. C-5H water rates remain higher than C-2H and C-3H exit rates indicating that some clean-up is still ongoing.

Beetaloo Energy previously reported a 30-day clean-up production rate averaging 7.1 TJ / day, with an exit rate of 6.3 TJ / day, achieved using a larger choke setting than that used during the current IP30 production test. Across the two consecutive 30-day periods, the average production and exit rates were very similar, demonstrating stable and consistent performance. This further supports the previously disclosed recoverable gas (2C) estimate of approximately 10 PJ for the C-5H well location1.

This extended production test has delivered valuable production and reservoir performance data that will inform future development activities and underpin Beetaloo Energy’s transition from an exploration and appraisal company to a gas producer.

Following the extended production testing, the well has been shut in. With the anticipated commissioning of the Carpentaria Gas Plant in the fourth quarter 2026, the C-2H, C-3H and C-5H well will now be tied in for production for Pilot Project first gas sales.

Source: ASX Announcement

• The Territory’s balance of trade surplus has climbed to $8.5 billion over the 12 months to May 2026 - up 3.3 per cent - as the Finocchiaro CLP Government rebuilds the economy.
   
• Territory goods exports reached $13.8 billion over the year, with Barossa gas now flowing through Darwin LNG - and more growth to come as the Beetaloo Basin is unlocked.
   
• A growing export economy means more jobs, more investment, and more choices for Territorians.

New trade data confirms the Territory economy is moving forward, with the value of goods exported climbing to $13.8 billion over the 12 months to May 2026, while imports declined to $5.3 billion – delivering an $8.5 billion trade surplus.

The result reflects the strength of the Territory’s resource exports, with Barossa gas now flowing through Darwin LNG and export volumes expected to keep building as the plant ramps up to full production through 2026.

And the pipeline of growth doesn’t stop there. With the Beetaloo Basin moving ahead, the Territory is positioned to anchor Australia’s energy security and supply for decades – meaning more jobs, more investment, and more opportunity for Territorians.

Minister for Trade, Business and Asian Relations, Robyn Cahill, said the figures showed the Territory playing to its strengths.

“For the first time in a long time, the Territory is moving forward. An $8.5 billion trade surplus tells the world we are open for business and delivering on our plan to rebuild the economy.

“Our energy exports are powering economies across Asia, and every shipment out of Darwin Harbour means jobs, investment, and opportunity for Territorians.

“There’s more work to do, but the momentum is real – Darwin LNG is delivering today, and with the Beetaloo to come, the best is still ahead of us.”

The Finocchiaro CLP Government is continuing to strengthen trade partnerships across the region, making the Territory the most competitive place in the nation to live, work, visit and invest.

Source: Northern Territory Government Newsroom

Santos has publicly released its updated 2030 Indigenous Participation Plan for the first time.

Training, education and jobs are the building blocks for economic empowerment. We want to provide more opportunities for more people and more businesses, and this plan outlines how we'll continue to do that.

Since 2021, we've made strong progress, including nearly doubling Indigenous employment and increasing Indigenous procurement spend from $9 million to $73 million.

Developed in consultation with our Indigenous employees and Indigenous Advisory Panel, the plan builds on this momentum with a focus on employment, career pathways, supplier opportunities, and strengthening relationships with communities.

We're listening, learning and working to deliver lasting benefits in the places where we operate.

Source: Santos LinkedIn

Read here: 2030-Indigenous-Participation-Plan.pdf

Independent analysis by Wood Mackenzie has confirmed the Federal Government's proposed domestic gas reservation would undermine investment in new gas supply, weaken Australia's long-term energy security and ultimately make it harder to deliver reliable and affordable gas to Australians.

The analysis found the Government’s proposal to require LNG exporters to supply 20 per cent of their export volumes to domestic users every year would force more than 200 petajoules of additional gas into an already well-supplied east coast market, creating a massive structural oversupply that would undermine the investment needed to avoid future shortfalls.

The report also found the proposed framework would crowd out domestic-focused gas producers that currently supply around two-thirds of the east coast market, discourage new gas exploration and development, introduce significant sovereign risk, and undermine Australia's reputation as a reliable energy supplier in the region.

Australian Energy Producers Chief Executive Samantha McCulloch said the analysis confirmed industry concerns that the proposed framework is fundamentally unworkable and needs significant changes.

“The proposed scheme will ultimately result in higher gas prices for Australian manufacturers because it will destroy investment in future supply, reduce competition and risk reliance on more expensive LNG imports for southern states,” Ms McCulloch said.

“It will have the perverse effect of reducing competition and stopping investment in Victoria and NSW where new supply is most needed.”

Australian Energy Producers’ submission on the draft framework outlines several recommendations to achieve a workable design that supports investment while ensuring a well-supplied gas market beyond 2030.

The submission calls on the Government to calibrate domestic supply obligations to actual market demand, fully protect existing contracts, and allow gas genuinely offered to the domestic market but not purchased to be exported without unnecessary regulatory hurdles.

It also recommends replacing annual Ministerial approvals with a more predictable, performance-based compliance framework. The scheme should also recognise the unique circumstances of Western Australia and the Northern Territory and exempt these jurisdictions in practice.

Ms McCulloch said Australian Energy Producers supported a well-designed, prospective domestic gas reservation scheme linked to new supply.

"The ultimate test of a successful policy will be if it delivers a more efficient and predictable framework that encourages investment, maintains competition and strengthens Australia's long-term energy security," Ms McCulloch said.

"However, the current proposal falls well short of this and without substantial changes it will ultimately lead to lower supply, higher prices and reduced tax and royalty revenue for governments.

“These reforms are complex and should not be rushed. Genuine and detailed consultation on the design is critical to avoid the same unintended consequences and damage associated with previous government interventions.”

Ms McCulloch said the reservation scheme must also be backed with reforms to fast-track projects currently held up in approval processes.

"Investing in new gas supply remains the only sustainable way to maintain affordable and reliable gas for Australian households and manufacturers. A reservation framework should support that objective, not undermine it."

Read the Wood Mackenzie report: Woodmac Energy

Read submission: Australian Energy Producers submission on draft reservation design framework.pdf

Source: Australian Energy Producers