The paper builds on Ministerial Statements made previously that analysed the current state of Indigenous development in the Northern Territory, launched the Building Stronger Regions – Stronger Futures policy, and discussed the future of local government.

The paper considers key questions and places them before the Conference for its consideration:
- What is ‘governance’? and What is ‘good’ Indigenous governance?
- Where have we come from—what have been the main problems/barriers to getting effective Indigenous governance in the Northern Territory?
- Why is building strong, effective Indigenous governance so important in the Northern Territory?
- The government’s Building Stronger Regions Stronger Futures policy – what does it have to offer for the future process of building strong Indigenous governance?
- What is the importance of the ‘regional’ dimension to governance; and where do communities and community development fit?
- What legitimacy, power, resources and accountability should Indigenous community and regional governing bodies in the NT have, or need to have?
- Where are we heading in the future—what are the challenges and opportunities ahead?
- How can the conference assist Indigenous people, communities and government in creating a way forward?

Above all, the paper delivers a challenge to the Conference to come up with the principles that should be followed in the development of a legislative framework for regional governance arrangements and the coordination of services to people in regions.