The NT government has named a former gas heavyweight as its first "Territory Coordinator", a new role the Country Liberal Party is promising will fast-track sluggish private investment.
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro announced on Thursday that Stuart Knowles, the former NT general manager at oil and gas giant Inpex, had been appointed to the role.
It comes as community consultation opens for the controversial draft Territory Coordinator laws, months ahead of their anticipated introduction to NT parliament.
The proposed laws would give the Territory Coordinator Minister, Ms Finocchiaro, broad powers to modify legal frameworks used to assess projects under an "exemption notice".
Mr Knowles, as an independent statutory officer, and Ms Finocchiaro would also hold the power to "step in" and take over the assessment process from other approval bodies.
"Currently there is a mishmash of powers and exemptions right across the legislation, impacting business in the territory," Ms Finocchiaro said.
"Approval time frames and unnecessary red tape is slowing down projects and acting as a deterrent to investing here."
Lia Finocchiaro says the Territory Coordinator will boost the NT's "economic competitiveness". (ABC News: Dane Hirst)
According to figures cited by the NT government, in the two decades to June this year public investment in the NT increased by 191 per cent, while private business investment increased by only 34 per cent.
The draft legislation states "driving economic prosperity" as the "primary principle" that would guide the minister or Territory Coordinator's decisions.
An exemption notice — which would apply if there is a "duplication" of the statutory processes a project is assessed under and where "strict compliance" is deemed "unnecessary or problematic" — would require parliamentary approval.
But as the CLP holds a 17-member majority in parliament, the opposition and crossbench would have no power to block the move.
Dheran Young said the government was "forced" to put the draft laws up for public scrutiny after Labor last month leaked a consultation paper that was only given to select stakeholders. (ABC News: Che Chorley)
Deputy opposition leader Dheran Young said the proposed laws would give "unchecked power" to the government.
“This proposal would see extraordinary powers placed into the hands of one person, completely sidestepping important safeguards when it comes to new developments," he said.
Environment Centre NT director Kirsty Howey described the proposed legislation as "authoritarian" and "draconian".
She said Mr Knowles' appointment, three months before the legislation is expected to pass, showed "very clearly who these laws are designed for".
Kirsty Howey said the Environment Centre was investigating whether the proposed Territory Coordinator powers would comply with federal law. (ABC News: Che Chorley)
"Environmental regulation needs to be [at] arm's length and undertaken independently," she said.
"It's completely inappropriate to have industry influence and industry power over that decision-making process.
"It's an attack on our nature, water, climate — at the request of big business."
However NT Chamber of Commerce membership and marketing manager Glen Hingley said the Territory Coordinator would be a "game-changer" for small and large businesses.
"What we've got here is a fresh start. It's a fresh start in the way that we're communicating with industry," he said.
"So many small businesses in the territory are reliant upon the success [of] future projects."
Mr Knowles is also a member of the NT Chamber of Commerce board of directors.
The draft laws are open for public comment until January 17, and are set to be debated in parliament in March.