00:00With the rest of the country trying to cap migrant numbers, the Territory signs a deal
00:07to bump them up.
00:08This is a bloody fantastic agreement.
00:11It's good for the Territory economy, it's good for Territory businesses.
00:15The deal between the federal and Territory governments will allow local employers to
00:19bring in 1,500 workers to fill shortages in 300 professions.
00:25We can't wait to see this new wave of migration come into the Territory.
00:30The NT government says the deal will help it meet economic targets and help the NT economy
00:35outperform national economic growth.
00:37It also wants to increase the Territory's population by 4,000 people per annum.
00:43What we're doing is we're opening up the Territory to the broader investment sector.
00:47We're actually inviting businesses to come in.
00:49But with the economy and population both lagging since the construction of the Inpex gas plant
00:54more than a decade ago, the targets are being called into question.
00:584,000 is very ambitious, I don't know if we're going to get there, but I think there
01:03is a real chance that Territory could start to increase its population.
01:09The Labor opposition have questioned whether there are enough incentives for workers to
01:13stay in the Territory long term.
01:15Soon after the government signed the deal to increase migrant numbers, they also moved
01:19to prevent community service workers from transferring long service leave from one job
01:23to the next.
01:24We are not going to see people stay in the Northern Territory if they can get the work
01:28entitlements that have been offered in other jurisdictions.
01:32Experts also warn the NT government's debt is a big problem.
01:36It's now so bad the government is removing the cap which stopped debt rising above $15
01:41billion.
01:42Look, it is problematic because it's not fiscally sustainable.
01:46With the government hoping migration is the answer, it remains to be seen how many people
01:51will make the move.
01:54For more UN videos visit www.un.org
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