Competition policy

The Northern Territory (NT) participates in Australia’s National Competition Policy framework to represent NT interests in national competition policy discussions and pursue reforms that support a more competitive, productive and efficient NT economy.

On 29 November 2024, all Australian governments agreed to a renewed National Competition Policy framework, comprising:

As a signatory to the Intergovernmental Agreement on National Competition Policy, the NT is implementing the renewed competition principles across government.

The following timetable outlines the government’s planned approach to implementing the renewed Competition Principles.

Activity steps

Short description of activityExpected delivery date
Principle 1: Governments should harness the benefits of competition

Introduce requirements for competition impact assessment and public interest exemption review processes

The NT will develop and establish:

  • a process to implement competition impact assessments for major decisions that have the potential for material impacts on competition including decisions to introduce or substantially amend policy frameworks relating to procurement, and industry assistance and planning.
  • a register of all public interest exemptions granted and subject to review every 10 years.

This work will involve consultation with NT Government agencies. The new processes will complement existing legislation review processes established in the NT Regulation-Making Framework.

December 2026

Principle 2: Governments should support consumers to benefit from competition

Not applicable

The NT’s existing internal processes support this principle and no new standalone actions are proposed.Not applicable
Principle 3: Reform of public monopolies including privatisation should not harm consumers

Develop best practice requirements for reforming public monopolies

Introduce requirements to commission and publish independent reviews to make findings and recommendations for maximizing competition and contestability to inform decisions to lease, privatise or introduce competition to a market supplied by a public monopoly or near-monopoly.December 2026
Principle 4: Government and private businesses should compete on a level playing field

Revise and publish an updated competitive neutrality policy and administrative arrangements

The NT will review its Competitive Neutrality policy and associated administrative processes, and update these to align them with Principle 4. This will include amendments to include requirements for:

  • a definition for significant government business activity
  • applying competitive neutrality requirements for start-ups
  • clear competitive neutrality complaint processes when multiple jurisdictions are involved
  • guidance on best practices for community service obligations
  • independent receipt and consideration of complaints and processes for publishing investigation reports.

December 2026

Principle 5: Governments should promote a single national market

Establish processes to consider impacts on national competition

The NT will establish a process to consider the impacts of policies on national competition, and integrate these requirements into regulation and competition impact assessment processes.

Actions to remove existing barriers to interstate trade are to be considered and advanced through the National Competition Policy National Reform Agenda workstream.

December 2026
Principle 6: Government pricing practices should be efficient and transparent

Not applicable

The NT’s existing Government Pricing Framework and independent regulators support this principle and no new standalone actions are proposed.Not applicable
Principle 7: Access to significant infrastructure facilities should be on reasonable terms and prices

Not applicable

The NT’s existing internal government processes are already aligned with this principle and no new standalone actions are proposed.Not applicable

Under the National Competition Policy Schedule 2024 (Federation Funding Agreement – Affordable housing, community services and other) (FFA), all jurisdictions are required to develop and maintain a jurisdiction-specific reform plan (JSRP).

The NT’s JSRP PDF (7.0 MB) sets out the competition reforms the government has agreed to deliver under the FFA, including associated milestones and implementation timeframes.

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