Action item 13.10

Progress

100%

Complete.
Approved by decision makers.
Recommendation implemented.

That the Government works with gas companies, Land Councils, local governments, local suppliers and businesses to devise and implement local procurement targets.

Target completion date

Completed.

Reform area
Maximising regional benefits and local opportunities
Project action
Maximising opportunities for Territory businesses
Lead agency
Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade

Action item update

Implementation

An onshore gas supply chain working group has been established to coordinate industry and government efforts to maximise regional benefits and local opportunities. Members include NT Government, Santos, Origin Energy, Empire Energy, Tamboran Resources, Central Petroleum, Australian Petroleum and Production Exploration Association (APPEA) and the Industry Capability Network Northern Territory.

Local Benefit Reporting:

  • Current active explorers in the Beetaloo to provide to government an annual local benefit report from the production phase summarising commitment to local benefit and employment. The NT Government will seek participation from other petroleum title holders once they become active.
  • An aggregated industry report on local benefit outcomes to be published annually from the production phase. The NT Government has committed to funding the first three reports.

Government initiatives being implemented:

  • Business growth programs and grants
  • Business pivot grants
  • Business upskilling
  • Aboriginal business development program
  • Small business champion guidance
  • Territory Business Centre's in Katherine and Tennant Creek
  • JobTrainer Program
  • Aboriginal employment programs such as Aboriginal Workforce Grants and Aboriginal Responsive Skilling Grants
  • NT VET Programs (apprenticeship and traineeships)
  • Territory Workforce Program
  • Industry Buildskills Program.

The NT Government holds regular (annual) information sessions to inform local businesses of upcoming work, pre-qualification and contract requirements and the process to register interest in project opportunities.

In consultation with stakeholders, the NT Government to work with industry in the setting of KPI targets at agreed phases of onshore development. This will be delivered through the Onshore Supply Chain Working Group noting policies and requirements such as:

  • Gas company procurement requirements across different stages of onshore development
  • Barkly Regional Workforce Strategy
  • Barkly Economic Growth Strategy
  • NT Government Aboriginal Procurement Policy as part of the overarching Aboriginal Contracting Framework.

Identify and measure local benefit outcomes of onshore industry activities in the Territory are realised through analysis conducted on proponents' procurement data via organisations such as the Industry Capability Network Northern Territory.

The Northern Territory Business Hub, announced in March 2022, will be delivered by the Northern Territory Indigenous Business Network with satellite offices across the Northern Territory.

The NT Government released the Aboriginal Economic Participation Framework 2022-2032 and the Aboriginal Procurement Policy.