13-05-2025
The winners and losers of the 2025-26 NT budget, from prisons to roads and health
With net debt to surpass $12 billion this financial year, the Northern Territory government's 2025-26 budget is headlined by record funding for corrections but little for new infrastructure projects.
Here are the winners and losers of the Country Liberal Party government's first budget. A graphic depicting a stethoscope for the 2024 NT budget. Produced by ABC graphics designer Randi Dahnial on Maay 10, 2024 ( ABC News: Randi Dahnial )
The Northern Territory is home to some of the sickest patients in the country, with Aboriginal Territorians battling higher rates of chronic diseases and mental health issues than non-Indigenous Australians.
This year's budget includes more money for the health department to deliver critical services, largely due to a 30 per cent increase in Commonwealth funding.
The health spend includes: $2.3 billion for health services across the territory, including a $100 million boost next financial year
$2.3 billion for health services across the territory, including a $100 million boost next financial year A $25.3 million increase for primary health care, bringing the total spend to $313.4 million
A $25.3 million increase for primary health care, bringing the total spend to $313.4 million An extra $17.1 million for mental health, mainly to support a new mental health ward at Royal Darwin Hospital Neutral: Police A graphic depicting a police officer's hat for the 2024 NT budget. Produced by ABC graphics designer Randi Dahnial on Maay 10, 2024 ( ABC News: Randi Dahnial )
Funding for the Northern Territory Police Force has been billed as a key item in this year's budget, the first from a Country Liberal Party government promising to be tough on crime.
While it does see record spends on resources, the NT Police Association has criticised the government's decision to cap a wage increase at 3 per cent.
The budget includes: A $37.3 million annual increase to policing services, bringing the force's total budget to $557.9 million
A $37.3 million annual increase to policing services, bringing the force's total budget to $557.9 million More funding for initiatives to prevent family violence and to meet commitments from a recent resources review
More funding for initiatives to prevent family violence and to meet commitments from a recent resources review About $7 million to upgrade the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre Winner: Corrections A graphic depicting a person entering jail for the 2024 NT budget. Produced by ABC graphics designer Randi Dahnial on Maay 10, 2024 ( ABC News: Randi Dahnial )
In a budget headlined by big ticket spends on community safety, the NT's Corrections Department has been plumped out with a record funding haul.
The budget allocates: A $60 million increase for Corrections, bringing the department's total budget to a record $495 million
A $60 million increase for Corrections, bringing the department's total budget to a record $495 million $176 million for operational costs to deal with rising prisoner numbers
$176 million for operational costs to deal with rising prisoner numbers $69.6 million for an infrastructure master plan, which includes new and refurbished prisons Winner: Education A graphic depicting a school bag for the 2024 NT budget. Produced by ABC graphics designer Randi Dahnial on Maay 10, 2024 ( ABC News: Randi Dahnial )
The Northern Territory has the lowest numeracy and literacy rates in Australia.
It also has the lowest school attendance rates, with the government attempting to reverse that through the introduction of truancy officers.
Last year, the Commonwealth and former Labor NT government signed a joint agreement that will see an extra $1 billion by 2029 for the territory's education system.
Those extra funds are reflected in this year's budget, which includes: An additional $35 million for government primary schools, and $18 million more for secondary schools
An additional $35 million for government primary schools, and $18 million more for secondary schools An extra $10 million for non-government schools
An extra $10 million for non-government schools Almost $1.9 million in extra funding for more school counsellors Neutral: Cost of living A graphic depicting a grocery shopping bag for the 2024 NT budget. Produced by ABC graphics designer Randi Dahnial on Maay 10, 2024 ( ABC News: Randi Dahnial )
Like people around the country, Territorians have been feeling cost-of-living stress over recent years.
While interest rates are expected to drop further this year, the NT government has pulled a few strings to ease hip-pocket pressures on households.
These measures include: An extra $50 million to keep electricity price increases below 3 per cent this year for most customers
An extra $50 million to keep electricity price increases below 3 per cent this year for most customers No fee increases for vehicle registrations until July 2026
No fee increases for vehicle registrations until July 2026 Early childhood education subsidies of up to $1,560 per child Neutral: Domestic violence A graphic depicting a three hands raised with a white ribbon for the 2024 NT budget. Produced by ABC graphics designer Randi Dahnial on Maay 10, 2024 ( ABC News: Randi Dahnial )
The NT has the highest rates of domestic, family and sexual violence (DFSV) in Australia, with the rate of intimate partner homicide seven times the national average.
At first glance, the budget's $16 million for DFSV funding this year and $36 million in 2026-27 appears as a win for the sector, but the devil is in the detail.
The funding is spread across various departments, and it ignores an action plan prepared by experts working in the sector.
The DFSV spend includes: $6.6 million for the Circuit Breaker youth diversion program
$6.6 million for the Circuit Breaker youth diversion program $4.2 million for prison programs aimed at preventing DFSV
$4.2 million for prison programs aimed at preventing DFSV $18 million over five years to continue men's behaviour change programs in Darwin, Wadeye, Alice Springs and Katherine
$18 million over five years to continue men's behaviour change programs in Darwin, Wadeye, Alice Springs and Katherine $2 million over five years to establish remote women's safe houses Loser: Environment A graphic depicting some leaves sprouting out of the Earth for the 2024 NT budget. Produced by ABC graphics designer Randi Dahnial on Maay 10, 2024 ( ABC News: Randi Dahnial )
Despite Territorians' love of camping and fishing, there's not much in the budget aimed at protecting the natural environment.
The NT Environment Protection Authority, which is tasked with assessing potential environmental impacts of economic projects, was allocated about $940,000 — an increase of just $13,000 on last year's budget. Winner: Housing A graphic depicting a house next to a tree for the 2024 NT budget. Produced by ABC graphics designer Randi Dahnial on Maay 10, 2024 ( ABC News: Randi Dahnial )
With the territory's homelessness rate 12 times the national average, money desperately needs to be spent on housing.
Houses in the NT's remote communities are severely overcrowded, forcing many people to move to urban centres.
This year's budget will go some way to addressing the problem, largely with Commonwealth money.
It includes: $615 million for housing in remote communities
$615 million for housing in remote communities $150 million mostly for remote homelands and affordable housing projects
$150 million mostly for remote homelands and affordable housing projects Almost $50 million for infrastructure to support the development of Holtze, a proposed outer Darwin suburb
Almost $50 million for infrastructure to support the development of Holtze, a proposed outer Darwin suburb $11 million for land development and community facilities in the Alice Springs suburb of Kilgariff Loser: Roads & Infrastructure A graphic depicting a road to a city for the 2024 NT budget. Produced by ABC graphics designer Randi Dahnial on Maay 10, 2024 ( ABC News: Randi Dahnial )
The new budget includes a record $4.34 billion infrastructure spend, although that is largely due to a huge windfall in annual infrastructure funding from the Commonwealth and a cost blow-out on the Darwin Ship Lift.
There are no new big ticket infrastructure projects promised by the new government. $305 million for the Darwin Ship Lift project, on top of $515 million already pledged
$305 million for the Darwin Ship Lift project, on top of $515 million already pledged About $2 billion for roads, aerodromes and jetties Winner: Mining & Industry Mining & industry NT logo ( ABC News: Randi Dahnial )
The NT government is hoping critical minerals and gas exports from the Beetaloo Basin will help grow the economy in coming years.
The budget includes: $181.3 million for regional roads supporting the gas industry
$181.3 million for regional roads supporting the gas industry $1.1 million for the development of the Beetaloo Basin
$1.1 million for the development of the Beetaloo Basin $6.4 million to support the new Territory Coordinator role, whose job is to cut regulatory red tape to accelerate economic projects
Santos's $5.6 billion offshore Barossa gas project will not contribute any royalties or taxes directly to the NT, but it will support some local jobs while it exports LNG from Darwin. Loser: Tourism A graphic depicting a person reading a map under a street sign for the 2024 NT budget. Produced by ABC graphics designer Randi Dahnial on Maay 10, 2024 ( ABC News: Randi Dahnial )
The Department of Tourism and Hospitality has seen an overall loss to its annual budget, in spite of a new $8 million funding commitment billed as a "tourism base budget rebuild".
Annual funding for tourism, events and screen production will be cut to $88 million, from $92 million the previous year.
The government says this is due to "the conclusion of time-limited tourism funding".
Indigenous tourism projects will also lose out with a total $2.2 million — $400,000 less than last year's budget. Neutral: Arts & Recreation A graphic depicting arts and recreation for the 2024 NT budget. Produced by ABC graphics designer Randi Dahnial on Maay 10, 2024 ( ABC News: Randi Dahnial )
Alice Springs will continue to receive funding for major new arts and recreation infrastructure projects that were promised under the previous Labor government.
Treasurer Bill Yan hails from Central Australia, and says he wants to ensure the region gets its fair share.
However it remains to be seen when a major art gallery in Alice Springs will actually be built.
The arts and recreation spend includes: $168.7 million for Alice Springs infrastructure projects including the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Gallery of Australia, a multi-sports precinct in Gillen, repairs to Anzac Oval and an upgraded visitor information centre
$168.7 million for Alice Springs infrastructure projects including the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Gallery of Australia, a multi-sports precinct in Gillen, repairs to Anzac Oval and an upgraded visitor information centre $52.4 million for the new Northern Territory Art Gallery in Darwin's State Square, which is due to open in 2026
$52.4 million for the new Northern Territory Art Gallery in Darwin's State Square, which is due to open in 2026 $4 million for art gallery expansions across Arnhem Land Posted 16m ago 16 minutes ago Tue 13 May 2025 at 5:57am , updated 14m ago 14 minutes ago Tue 13 May 2025 at 5:59am
