1 November 2025
The Finocchiaro CLP Government is ensuring Defence remains one of the key pillars of the Rebuilding the Economy Strategy here, with a Northern Territory industry delegation heading to the Indo Pacific International Maritime Exposition 2025 in Sydney next week.
Led by DefenceNT, the delegation will showcase the Territory's strategic importance, defence industry capability, and investment opportunities to national and international partners during the event, held from 4-6 November at the International Convention Centre Sydney.
Chief Minister and Minister for DefenceNT Lia Finocchiaro said the Territory's expanding role in Australia's defence and regional security network is central to rebuilding the economy, creating jobs, and attracting new investment.
"The Territory is the frontline of Australia's defence and national security, and under my government, we are positioning the Territory to gain maximum benefit from our natural strategic advantage," Mrs Finocchiaro said.
"Our Rebuilding the Economy Strategy sets a clear target to deliver for Australia."
The CommSec State of the States Report (October 2025) here highlights a shift in the Territory's economic momentum, with the Northern Territory rising from eighth to fourth place nationally. The report also notes the Territory's position as Australia's fastest-growing economy for two consecutive quarters, recording growth of 5.4% over the year.
"The CommSec report confirms the Territory is growing faster than anywhere else in the nation - our economy is strong, our population is rising, and investor confidence is high," Mrs Finocchiaro said.
"That strength puts us in the perfect position to deliver the defence capability, logistics, and workforce Australia needs to secure our northern frontier."
Eileen Breen, Business Development Manager at NTEX, said the company's participation in Indo Pacific 2025 reflects its commitment to strengthening collaboration across Defence and industry.
"We're attending Indo Pacific 2025 to strengthen connections with Defence and industry partners who share our focus on building sustainable maritime and infrastructure capability in the North. The NTEX Marine Resource Recovery Hub showcases how local industry can support Defence through responsible decommissioning, recycling, and remediation. Our goal is to contribute to a more resilient northern sustainment network; one that transforms end-of-life assets into new opportunities for growth, readiness, and regional capability."
The Northern Territory delegation includes 26 local businesses and organisations across engineering, construction, maritime technology, and training, all ready to connect with key Defence personnel, Allied partners, and industry leaders.
Participants include Baldwin Group, Bear Claw, Charles Darwin University, Dräger, ENZED Service Centre Darwin, Fortress Industries, Georgiou, Industry Capability Network NT, Land Development Corporation, M+J Builders, Master Builders NT, Marine Technicians Australia, Micks Ally Fab, Norship, Norsta Maritime, Chamber of Commerce NT, NTEX, Paspalis Capital, Safety Direct Solutions, Shorebarge, SPEE3D, Territory Instruments, Tiwi Port Marine, and Trancelestial.
"In our year of action, certainty and security, our delegation is taking the Territory's story to the world - that we can deliver the infrastructure, innovation, and industry capability to support Australia's defence priorities," Mrs Finocchiaro said.
The Commonwealth Government's $765 billion defence investment pipeline over the next decade presents major opportunities for the Northern Territory, including:
$14-18 billion to upgrade and expand military bases across northern Australia;$5-7 billion for Army coastal vessel facilities and supporting infrastructure; and$10-15 billion for logistics, storage, and transport networks essential to national operations.
Through the Indo Pacific 2025 delegation, the Finocchiaro CLP Government is positioning the Northern Territory as the gateway to Australia's northern defence frontier, creating local jobs, building regional capacity, and ensuring Territorians are front and centre in the nation's security and economic future.
