Article by Thomas McLean, courtesy of NT News
14.09.2025
Federal member for Solomon Luke Gosling has pledged he would “100 per cent” keep fighting for a special economic zone in the Northern Territory, despite the federal government previously dismissing the idea.
His remarks came two weeks after he said at the NT News’ Bush Summit he was supportive of a special economic zone, but acknowledged the idea was cast aside under the shadow treasury of Chris Bowen and Treasurer Jim Chalmers.
A special economic zone is a geographically designated area within a country where more favourable economic regulations and incentives are applied to that jurisdiction.
Mr Gosling told the NT News he would keep fighting for an economic zone, “given there is the ability for the Commonwealth to make special economic arrangements for the NT”.
“We’re not a state, so the Commonwealth has the ability to assist us in becoming a renewable energy superpower, for example, by attracting international and national investment,” he said.
“We want to provide incentives for both workers and companies to come to the [NT] to set up business and do business with the world.
“A special economic zone is something that I’ve been talking to our national leaders about for some time, and it is something that we will continue to pursue and argue you for.”
Asked how he would change the federal government’s mind, given the idea of a special economic zone had previously been rejected, Mr Gosling said the NT Government would need to work with the federal government.
“It would be great if we had a Team Territory approach to economic development,” he said.
“The NT Government is a year old; they’ve withdrawn funding from a lot of projects, which is becoming difficult for industry. Meanwhile, there’s billions of dollars of federal funding that’s there available to be used to build roads, to build houses.
“What we want to see is the NT Government to engage more fully with the federal government.
Still responding to the same question, Mr Gosling spoke about Ms Finocchiaro’s recent visit to Japan, where she met with senior Japanese defence officials to showcase the NT’s role in regional security and its position as a reliable host for defence activities.
“Going overseas and trying to talk with other nations about military partnerships is fine and I wish them well, but to partner with the federal government makes more sense,” he said.
“At the end of the day, other nations look to our nation to say: ‘What are your settings, what are your intentions, what are you keen to partner on?’
“We all want to see more combined training in the NT, with the best ranges in the world.
“Hopefully we can start to see with new leadership in Defence NT a more collaborative approach to making more things here in the NT.”
