Coordinated action needed to unlock the Territory's resources pipeline

Turning the Territory’s resources opportunity into lasting economic benefit requires coordinated Commonwealth-Northern Territory action.

The Northern Territory Geological Survey’s July 2026 report is an important publication and identifies:

- nine major mines operating
- 16 developing projects, including two currently on hold, representing an estimated $6.2 billion in potential capital expenditure and around 3,200 construction and 2,800 operating jobs
- seven further advanced projects under feasibility.

Spanning rare earths, copper, lithium, gold, phosphate, tungsten, molybdenum and other commodities, this is a diverse, Territory-wide opportunity with both regional and national significance.

These are pipeline estimates, not committed outcomes and not every project will proceed or warrant public support. However, where projects are economically viable and meet the necessary environmental and community requirements, coordinated government action can help ensure avoidable barriers do not hold them back.

That means aligning enabling infrastructure, workforce and migration, housing, regulatory and investment facilitation, and opportunities for downstream development, before constraints emerge.

The opportunity is real - the next task is coordinated delivery.

With the Commonwealth and Territory governments working from a shared plan, with clear responsibilities and timely decisions, credible projects can become sustained production, regional employment, local business activity, exports and stronger national supply chains.