As with any election, promises are made, many of them are welcomed.
The CLP now holds a strong mandate for its election promises. The rubber must hit the road in delivering them.
The devil, however, is always in the details. Even a good idea can fail to have a positive impact if the specifics are fumbled.
We know our economy is not humming the way we would like, and growing our population is key to bolstering it.
People need a reason to move here. But also, a reason to stay.
Keeping, and attracting new residents requires a strong economy with ample job opportunities.
The announcement of a $50,000 first-home owners grants and a $30,000 grant to attract people to build a home in the Northern Territory is encouraging, but these incentives will only work if there are jobs and opportunities.
The CLP has proposed the creation of a Territory Coordinator to fast-track major projects and streamline development approvals.
This is a positive step, but it must be accompanied by concrete actions to cut through the red tape that slows down investment and development.
Overhauling bloated government departments is a good place to start.
The current structure, where infrastructure, planning and logistics are lumped together, has proven fruitless.
By breaking up these massive departments into more focused entities, the government can more effectively manage resources and hopefully speed up bureaucracy. The creation of a standalone housing department would also help to focus attention on a critical issue facing many Territorians.
This is particularly important when we are in the middle of a national housing crisis. Delays in approvals have been a major roadblock to getting more homes out of the ground.
To help increase housing supply, we should focus on urban infill and the efficient use of existing land and match new housing supply with the infrastructure to support it.
We also have a great opportunity in the purpose-built student accommodation market.
Having safe and accessible student housing isn’t just a nice-to-have. It helps to grow our economy and makes our city more vibrant.
The CLP made a welcomed commitment to slash red tape when converting old offices into student accommodation.
This has a lot of potential. But there is a lack of detail on how these changes will be implemented.
But it will be hard to convince people to live, invest or study in the Territory when they don’t feel safe.
Our recent survey of over 200 businesses found operators spent a combined $2.1 million on crime-related repairs, with 81 per cent facing verbal abuse, 71 per cent experiencing property damage, 70 per cent feeling unsafe, 69 per cent being crime victims, 65 per cent threatened, 32 per cent physically abused and 38 per cent spat on.
Restoring law enforcement’s ability to keep order is crucial to making the Territory a safer, more welcoming place.
The need for secure community safety and economic stability is obvious for all to see.
The CLP has a real chance to bring about meaningful change in the Northern Territory.
Let’s hope they get the details right.