Contribution to Industry

Primary Industries

Primary Industries is responsible for developing the Northern Territory's agricultural, horticultural and pastoral industries. It works in partnership with producers, industry bodies, community groups and related agencies to promote industry growth. Multi-skilled staff work in three regional offices and nine research facilities throughout the Territory. Animal and plant health is a key focus under the group’s ‘biosecurity’ role, with efforts directed at protecting and building markets. The department’s laboratory capacity and animal and plant health expertise, including preparedness to deal with pest and disease incursions, are vital elements of this work.

Our services to the primary industry sector

• Supporting profitable and sustainable primary production.
• Providing research and extension to help producers lift crop and stock yields and capacity.
• Directing science-based biosecurity efforts at animal and plant health to protect market access and gain new markets.
• Working with landholders to achieve best practice farming methods for specific NT environments.
• Supporting Indigenous pastoral and horticultural development.
• Providing specialised laboratory services focused on plant and animal health.
• Monitoring for, and responding to emergency and endemic animal and plant pests and diseases.
• Researching broad plant and animal scientific and market access issues for the purpose of developing domestic and overseas trade.
• Trialling and introducing new horticultural and agricultural crops best suited for specific NT environments.

Fisheries

Fisheries works in partnership with commercial and recreational fishing industries, the aquaculture industry, Indigenous communities and other stakeholders to achieve optimum sustainable utilisation of the Northern Territory’s valuable aquatic resources. It follows a consultative and precautionary-based approach to ensure that all NT wild harvest fisheries, aquaculture and associated aquatic resources are ecologically, economically and socially sustained. Fisheries’ resource management programs are based on high-quality scientific indicators and designed to ensure that the Territory’s aquatic resources are not over-exploited.

Our services to the aquatic resource sector

• Protecting and managing all aquatic resources, with particular emphasis on vulnerable fish stocks.
• Implementing innovative research programs to develop world-class fisheries technology and assessment techniques to monitor aquatic resources.
• Allocating licences to assist in commercial catch, sale and processing of Territory fish and aquatic life.
• Providing programs that nurture industry growth and development in the commercial fishing, aquaculture and fishing tourism sectors.
• Monitoring to protect local fishing, aquaculture, tourism and marine-based industries from aquatic pest incursions.
• Operating a research barramundi hatchery and nursery business.
• Supplying barramundi fingerlings to assist commercial and recreational industry needs.
• Providing extensive Research and Development support to the recreational fishing sector.
• Liaising with coastal Indigenous communities and fostering consultation between them and industry on opportunities for joint-venture operations, particularly local aquaculture activities.
• Promoting recreational fishing and encouraging fishing tourism in the NT.
• Providing fishing infrastructure projects and access arrangements to enhance recreational fishing in the Territory.

Minerals and Energy

Minerals and Energy is responsible for policy development for, and administration of, the mining and petroleum industries. It achieves this through expert staffing of organisational units in charge of mines and petroleum management. Their roles include granting and administering titles, providing geoscientific data, managing environmental issues, and promoting and developing the Territory's resource base. The group regulates these industries to ensure good practice in health, safety and environmental management.

Our services to the minerals and energy sector

• Collecting geoscientific information on Territory mineral and petroleum potential including industry exploration reports and drill core samples.
• Providing information services to support exploration companies.
• Administering renewable energy initiatives such as the Federal Renewable Remote Power Generation Program and Photovoltaic Rebate Program.
• Overseeing the mining and petroleum industry to ensure they operate safely and with minimum environmental impact.
• Granting valid and secure tenure for exploration and development of mineral and petroleum resources.
• Facilitating industry compliance with the Commonwealth's Aboriginal Land Rights (NT) Act and the Native Title Act 1993.
• Running programs to effectively and efficiently manage petroleum and mineral resources to maximise benefits to the Territory.
• Maintaining records for all granted Northern Territory exploration and mining and petroleum titles.
• Working with industry to help optimise the Territory’s resource development.

How to Contact Us

General Enquiries

Telephone: +61 8 8999 5511
Fax: +61 8 8982 1725
Email: info.DRDPIFR@nt.gov.au
Postal: GPO Box 3000, Darwin NT 0801

Primary Industries

Phone: +61 8 8999 2007
Fax: +61 8 8999 2010
GPO Box 3000, Darwin NT 0801

Fisheries

Telephone: +61 08 8999 2144
Fax: +61 08 8999 2065
GPO Box 3000, Darwin NT 0801

Minerals and Energy

Darwin

Phone: +61 8 8999 6443
Fax: +61 8 8999 5221
GPO Box 3000, Darwin NT 0801  

Alice Springs

Telephone:     +61 8 8951 8177
Fax: +61 8 8951 8193
PO Box 8760, Alice Springs NT 0871

DRDPIFR Regional Offices

Alice Springs

Phone: +61 8 8951 8111
Fax: +61 8 8951 8112
PO Box 8760, Alice Springs NT 0871

Tennant Creek

Phone: +61 8 8962 4488
Fax: +61 8 8962 4480
PO Box 159 Tennant Creek NT 0861

Katherine

Phone: +61 8 8973 9739
Fax: +61 8 8973 9777
PO Box 1346, Katherine NT 0851

Disclaimer
While all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that the information contained in this publication is correct, the information covered is subject to change. The Northern Territory Government does not assume and hereby disclaims any express or implied liability whatsoever to any party for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions, whether these errors or omissions result from negligence, accident or any other cause.