The Department of the Chief Minister and Cabinet plays a vital role in the economic, social and environmental development of the Northern Territory (NT) to deliver outcomes for all Territorians.

It is responsible for overseeing or coordinating major government strategies as well as positioning the NT to achieve those priorities

• The Gas Taskforce drives the Northern Territory Government’s vision for the Territory to become a world class hub for gas production, manufacturing and services by 2030, with priority focus to:

  expand Darwin’s world-scale liquefied natural gas (LNG) export hub
  establish gas-based processing and manufacturing

  contribute to Australia’s energy security.

• The Investment Territory Team are supporting pursuit Northern Territory a $40 billion economy by 2030 through growing private investment and creating more jobs. The team works with the public, private and non-government sectors promoting the Territory as an attractive investment destination with genuine opportunities for growth. The team engages with foreign, domestic and local private investors to attract investment.

The department drives the sustainable, economic and social advancement of the Territory through land use and transport planning, infrastructure investment and effective logistics supply chains.

The Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade (DITT) supports growth of sustainable and competitive industries by balancing robust and efficient regulation, and sustainable and competitive industry growth strategies.

• The Mining and Energy Division promotes and facilitates the development of Territory resources and renewable energy initiatives, and develops and delivers energy policy.
• The Energy Development Division regulates petroleum, energy pipeline and geothermal energy tenure and activities in the Territory including:
  • title management
  • land release
  • exploration activities
  • production operations
  • decommissioning of petroleum infrastructure onshore and in Territory waters.

  This encompasses Petroleum Operations, Petroleum Tenure, Onshore Gas Development, Policy and Strategy, Legal Services, Resource Policy and Reform and Legislation.

• The Office of Sustainable Energy coordinates energy policy and the implementation of renewables across government. The priority tasks of the office are developing strategies for advancing the government’s target of 50 per cent by 2030 and seizing opportunities for the creation of low cost, reliable, and clean energy.
• Northern Territory Geological Survey (NTGS) supports the exploration and development of the Territory's mineral and petroleum resources through high-quality geoscience and investment attraction programs.

Through initiatives such as the $26 million Resourcing the Territory program, the team develops pre-competitive geoscience information and data, supports companies with development-stage projects, manages collaborative industry grants for greenfield exploration, statutory reporting of exploration and production and promotes the Territory's resources opportunities to investors.

Our Land Development Corporation (LDC) partners with public and private sectors to plan, build and deliver strategic land developments with the private sector rigour to deliver a positive economic impact. This statutory body receives corporate support from the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics.

The department is the environmental regulator for the onshore petroleum industry under the Petroleum Act 1984 and the Petroleum (Environment) Regulations 2016 and administers the Water Act 1992 to ensure sustainable use of water resources by the onshore petroleum industry.

The department also provides advice on monitoring and management of natural resources, including scientific assessment of flora, fauna, land and water assets. Together, the department’s activities ensure sustainable use of the Territory’s natural resources while also supporting the Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority (NT EPA) through assessment, monitoring and compliance activities.

The department's Petroleum Operations responsibilities also include:

• Assessment and approval of Environment Management Plans (EMPs).
• Review of environment performance reports.
• Respond and review of recordable and reportable incidents.
• Inspect regulated activities.
• Monitor compliance with EMPs, the regulations and the Code of Practice: Onshore Petroleum Activities in the Northern Territory .

The Northern Territory Environmental Protection Authority (NT EPA) provides advice on the environmental impacts of development proposals and advice and regulatory services to encourage effective waste management, pollution control and sustainable practices.

The NT EPA is an established under the Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority Act 2012.