In December 2024, the Northern Territory Government released an exposure draft of the proposed Territory Coordinator Bill 2024.
The bill establishes a Territory Coordinator with powers to take over the existing operations of government and decisions made across multiple Acts. The Coordinator would answer only to the Chief Minister, and would not be accountable to the NT Parliament.
The bill has potentially serious impacts on the way nuclear waste is handled and stored in the NT, due to the removal of key protections.
In an initial response to the exposure draft, MAPW recommended the bill be rejected.
In February 2025, the Territory Government introduced the bill to Parliament, where it was sent to the Legislative Scrutiny Committee.
MAPW has made a further submission to the Committee, reiterating our concerns related to nuclear waste and again recommending the bill be rejected.
The Legislative Scrutiny Committee is due to report back to Parliament by 12 March 2025.