NT funding under scrutiny as finance minister travels to Darwin

The Northern Territory government is facing scrutiny from the Commonwealth as Finance Minister Katy Gallagher visited Darwin to discuss concerns over the administration of federally-funded programs. Acting Chief Minister Gerard Maley expressed frustration at Gallagher's presence, stating that it's "a bit rich" for her to dictate how the NT government should manage its funds.

Gallagher emphasized that the Commonwealth is concerned about the distribution of $330 million allocated under a housing agreement, with the NT government seeking to reduce its housing target from 2,700 to 1,800 units. The federal government also expressed worry about the lack of funds reaching the ground, exacerbating social dysfunction and hindering progress on seven Closing the Gap targets.

Gallagher highlighted areas like disaster relief, domestic violence services, and housing where the NT government's actions were deemed inadequate. If the NT government fails to address these concerns, the Commonwealth may bypass them and fund frontline services directly. The NT government acknowledged delays in applying for disaster relief funding for events that occurred last year, with some communities still awaiting assistance.

Despite expressing productivity in their meeting, the Office of the Chief Minister criticized the federal ministers for having pre-prepared statements and coming with closed minds.