The Northern Territory government's new ministry will not include major portfolios such as climate change and remote housing and instead favour new positions aimed at boosting the economy. 

Under the changes, the Country Liberal Party (CLP) government will no longer have a minister for suicide prevention, treaty, local decision-making, parks and rangers, nor a minister for women or remote housing and homelands. 

The new government has scrapped the climate change portfolio altogether, and environment will now sit with lands and planning under minister Joshua Burgoyne.

Mr Burgoyne will also oversee the water resources portfolio, which was formerly called water security.

The cabinet will include a new position, the territory coordinator, which will aim to attract investment to the territory, as well as a new minister for trade, business and Asian relations. 

"The CLP cabinet has been sworn in," Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro told reporters on Tuesday.

"This is a moment in history where the territory starts to move forward."

Political analyst says NT government must explain move

Charles Darwin University political expert Nathan Franklin said the government needed to explain the changes made to various portfolios.

"When those ministries were set up that way with those particular terms it was to send a message that those things were important and that should be in the title," he told ABC Radio Darwin on Tuesday. 

"To go back on some of those things when those are issues … you've got to wonder what is the thinking.

"It can't be just big business, it can't be just investment, it can't be just the typical things we hear about when we have problems in the community that need addressing." 

Dr Franklin said the new government was "trying to project a new territory" with a focus on development and the economy.

"This government is going to be about trying to cut red tape and green tape. They'll be trying to reign in the budget," he said.

Concerns environmental issues sidelined

Environment Centre NT director Kirsty Howey said it was concerning to see environmental responsibilities "collapsed in with pro-development parts of government".

"Water isn't just a resource, water is essential for all life and it should be given prominence and separation from industry in terms of its regulation," she said.

"There's no question that to have a robust system of environmental management and regulation the environment needs to be treated separately and have a standalone department and regulatory functions."

Ms Howey said while it was heartening to see the CLP commit to a 2030 emissions reduction target prior to the election — unlike the previous Labor government — that promise needed to be prioritised in the new ministry.

"That needs to be backed up with departmental resourcing, responsibilities, laws and policies that actually do the job," she said.

Signalling the new government's economic strategy, Treasurer Bill Yan said he would look to expand the agriculture sector and fracking in the Beetaloo Basin in a bid to dig the territory out of nearly $11 billion in debt. 

"The Beetaloo [Basin] and, of course, the resource sector and the gas sector will play a large part in the recovery of our economy," he said. 

Opposition leader questions future of policies affecting remote Territorians

Labor Opposition Leader Selena Uibo said she was disappointed portfolios such as local decision-making, which aims to support Aboriginal self-determination, were scrapped in the new government.

"Some of those key areas … are huge priorities for people in my electorate of Arnhem," she said. 

"I really hope that the new CLP government does honour some of those key policies that have been making a difference in the territory." 

Ms Uibo also raised concerns about the removal of a specific portfolio aimed at improving remote housing and homelands. 

The new government will instead have two separate portfolios: housing construction, and housing, local government and community development.

"One of the largest single social indicators of success in the Northern Territory is access to safe and adequate homes," she said. 

"Not having a sole focus on housing is disappointing in my perspective."