This week saw the release of the 2023-24 Budget for both the Northern Territory
Government and the Federal Government. Here we have identified several key
funding commitments influencing the growth of the Top End's tourism industry.
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Northern Territory Government Budget 2023-24
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TOURISM NT
Tourism Marketing
Tourism NT’s budget for 2023-24 of $62.4 million includes an additional $35.5m for marketing over 2023-24 and 2024-25. It highlights that this is for tourism marketing and promoting the Territory to live, work and visit.
The budget highlights are: -
- A two-year budget commitment will ensure that planning is much easier for the organisation, especially in committing with certainty to initiatives with key partners.
- $28.6 million for domestic and international tourism marketing, including continuing international marketing by Study NT and NT Business Events. An additional $14.3m per year for marketing for 2023-23 & 2024-25
- In 2022-23 only, there is an additional $3 million for international marketing.
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Tourism Business Support
A range of business support announcements yet without much detail at this point.
The current aspects understood are:
- $3.8 million to grow the capability of the Aboriginal tourism sector, including skills development and mentoring and business support
- $2.1 million for enhanced industry development activities, business support with digital marketing and sales
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Business Events Support Fund (NT Business Events)
- $2 million for the Business Events Support Fund, to support the Territory business events sector by providing financial assistance to organisers of qualified corporate meetings, conferences, conventions, exhibitions and incentives.
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NT MAJOR EVENTS
The 2023 Budget allocates $24 million in 2023-24 to continue to support events and festivals across the Territory, supporting BASSINTHEGRASS, Parrtjima, NRL & AFL matches & marketing, Katherine and Darwin Pride Festivals, Million Dollar Fish, Supercars, Finke Desert Race & Red Centre NATS, Territory Day, Darwin Festival, Desert Festival and Alice Springs Beanie Festival.
- This budgeted support for events has been reduced by $1.3 million over the 2022-23.
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NT PARKS & WILDLIFE
Overall Parks & Wildlife are budgeted to receive an additional budget allocation of $3.4 million to $56.4 million.
- The sales of goods and services (including camping fees and Parks Pass) is anticipated to grow revenue by $5.5 million to $9.8 million.
- Despite the revenue increase, the budget for the maintenance of parks and wildlife is the same as previously at $5.6 million.
- The staffing of rangers will remain the same as the previous capped at 134 rangers.
- Budget reductions include
- Resourcing the Gamba Army budgeted to $300,000 down from $500,000
- Overall weed and feral animal management is reduced by $120,000 to $500,000
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BUSINESS & WORKFORCE - DITT
Work Force Attraction
The workforce attraction is primarily undertaken by Business & Workforce within the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade.
- The allocation is for $1.05 million in 2023-24 to continue delivering a Global Worker Attraction campaign, boost skilled migration capacity and continue the Worker Connect Platform.
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Federal Government Budget 2023-2024 |
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Tourism Australia
- The Budget confirms Tourism Australia's appropriation of $169.1 million for the next financial year.
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Environment, Heritage and Culture
- $262.3 million for Commonwealth National Parks, such as Kakadu and Uluru‑Kata Tjuta, to protect their natural and cultural heritage value. Including $130 million to sustain park assets and visitor infrastructure.
- $121 million to establish Environment Protection Australia to provide independent approvals under the EPBC Act, such as sustainable tourism developments in world heritage areas.
- $39 million to install 117 EV fast charging stations on national highways and a National Electric Vehicle Strategy to encourage greater use of cleaner vehicles including $7.4 million to support the introduction of a Fuel Efficiency Standard.
- $48 million over 5 years to continue management of Australia’s state managed world heritage listed properties.
- $535 million for national institutions over 4 years for 9 national cultural institutions including: National Library of Australia, National Gallery of Australia, National Museum of Australia, Museum of Australian Democracy, National Archives of Australia, National Portrait Gallery of Australia, and the Australian National Maritime Museum
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Workforce and Training
- International Students will return to maximum 48 hours work per fortnight from 1 July 2023.
- Higher education international students will be granted an extra two years of post-study work rights.
- The Government will also fund a further 300,000 TAFE and vocational education training places to become fee‑free.
- $370 million will be spent across four years expanding the Pacific Australia Mobility Scheme, which provides seasonal working visas for people from Pacific countries.
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Passenger Movement Charge
- The Passenger Movement Charge will increase by $10 to $70 per passenger starting 1 July 2024.
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Visa Charges and Processing
- Visa Application charges will rise 6% from 1 July 2023 in addition to the automatic inflation (CPI) increases. In addition to these increases, there is a further 15% increase for visitor and temporary worker visas including working holiday visas (backpackers). Electronic tourism e-visa and eta visas are exempt from this increase.
- These additional charges will collect an additional $660 million over 5 years. Of these increased charges, $76 million will be used to improve visa processing and improve processing systems.
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Export Market Development Grant
- Funding for future EMDG grants will decrease by $61 million over 4 years. This will not affect current grants or grant applications by tourism businesses.
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Small Business
- Energy bill relief of $650 for small businesses, yet eligibility varies depending on different electricity consumption thresholds in each State or Territory.
- Businesses with annual turnover of less than $50 million will have access to a bonus 20% tax deduction (up to $20,000) for eligible assets supporting electrification and efficient use of energy from 1 July 2023 until 30 June 2024.
- The $20,000 instant asset write-off for small businesses will continue until the middle of next year, allowing businesses to deduct the full cost of assets up to that price that were installed or ready for use before that date.
- $23 million to help small businesses build their resilience to cyber security attacks by training in‑house cyber wardens.
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