Media Release

Finocchiaro CLP Government goes above and beyond on approvals fast-track reforms promise and unveils Red Tape Portal 

15 July 2026

• Finocchiaro CLP Government will have delivered over 80% of fast-track approval reforms within 12 months from the release of the Approvals Fast-Track Taskforce’s final report.
   
• Fast-track reforms from the Approvals Fast Track Taskforce are designed to support government to reduce approval timeframes by 50%.
   
• Government launches NT Red Tape Portal to enable individuals, businesses and industry to report on regulations that create unnecessary burden, avoidable costs or delays.

The Finocchiaro CLP Government has delivered more than 50 approvals fast-track reforms to grow the Territory economy and launched a new portal designed to help further reduce red tape for business and industry.

This week marks a year since the Government promised it would deliver all 48 recommended actions "fast-tracked" for completion within 12 months from the release of the Approvals Fast-Track Taskforce’s final report.

The Government is delivering on that promise, with 58 of the 70 recommended actions expected to be completed by the 12-month deadline tomorrow (16 July).

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said her Government's ability to meet its promise had cut red tape for business and made it easier to invest in the Territory.

"When we released the Taskforce's Saying 'Yes' to Business report last year, we made a commitment to Territorians that we would act," the Chief Minister said.

"Today, we can proudly say we have delivered over and above what we committed to implementing within 12 months."

Following the Finocchiaro CLP Government’s delivery of fast-track reforms, businesses are experiencing tangible results, including:

• Taking a risk-based approach to authorising mineral exploration and extractive operations has seen approval timeframes reduced by up to 30 business days
• Introducing a digital system to permit low-risk traffic and road activities has seen assessment timeframes reduced from around 12 days to fewer than four
• Removing public notice requirements from low-risk liquor licensing applications can reduce processing times by up to 33 days
• Six licence types have had their renewal periods extended, including builders’ licences and Priority 3 food business registrations (small-scale or home-based scale), which have already benefited more than 100 operators
• In planning, public consultation has been removed for low-risk applications saving around 14 days in cases where consultation has already taken place at earlier stages.

Meanwhile, the Government is today launching the NT Red Tape Portal as a way to give individuals, businesses and industry a stronger voice in the crackdown on red tape, unnecessary burden and avoidable cost or delay.

Feedback received through the Portal at haveyoursay.nt.gov.au/ntredtapeportal will help Government identify opportunities to streamline regulation, improve government processes and reduce unnecessary regulatory burden across the Territory.

“Alongside the fast-track approvals reforms the Finocchiaro CLP Government has delivered, this tool will give investors even more certainty and incentive to put their faith – and their job-making money – in the Territory," the Chief Minister said.

Media contact: Nathan Vass - 0405 799 790