A Working Future

A Working Future outlines a strong vision for remote areas. It’s about government and local people working together to make our towns and communities better places to live.

A Working Future is the whole story of how government will work in remote areas of the Territory. It has six parts that join together.

A Working Future is the Territory Government’s plan for improving the lives of remote Territorians. It is part of our Territory 2030 vision and will bring all Territorians together to create a dynamic, growing future for our community.

Part 1: Territory Growth Towns

Our biggest remote communities will become proper towns, with services, buildings and facilities like any other country town in Australia. These towns will become the economic and service delivery centres for their regions.

The 20 Territory Growth Towns will be:
Maningrida, Wadeye, Borroloola, Nguiu, Galiwin’ku, Milingimbi, Ngukurr, Angurugu/Umbakumba, Gunbalanya, Yirrkala, Numbulwar, Yuendumu, Hermannsburg, Ramingining, Gapuwiyak, Daguragu/Kalkarindji, Lajamanu, Papunya, Elliott and Ali Curung.

Part 2: Outstations and Homelands

The government will keep helping outstations and homelands with funding for services. The government will make sure that this money gets to residents for things they really need.

Outstations are mostly on private Aboriginal land, so the government will concentrate on helping residents and traditional owners to look after their own houses, bores and generators into the future. The government will not be building any new outstations.

Part 3: Remote Service Delivery

The Australian Government and the Territory Government will work together to provide services that local people need. We will have staff from both governments working together and have a ‘one-stop shop’ in our remote towns. Both governments will be looking at how they can work better to provide long-term funding so that communities can plan for the future with certainty.

Part 4: Employment and Economic Development

Just like anywhere else in the world, our towns and communities need private investment to work properly. This includes local people owning their own businesses and homes to build up their wealth. And if we want private investment, we need to make sure that people and companies can get a long-term, secure lease for their shop, office, workshop or house. With this lease they can borrow money, build their businesses and sell their assets to make a profit.

The government will help local people plan for the future of their local economy and put in place strategies to attract and support new businesses. A long-term Indigenous Economic Development Strategy will help provide the right pathway.

Part 5: Remote Transport Strategy

People in smaller communities need regular and affordable transport to get to jobs, schools, clinics, shops and other services in larger towns. The government will be working with local people on a Remote Integrated Transport Strategy to help make sure that people can get into the larger towns and get back home again safely.

Part 6: Closing the Gap Targets and Evaluation

Governments need to prove they are achieving real results. All governments in Australia have agreed to a set of targets to ‘close the gap’ of Indigenous disadvantage, especially in remote areas. The Territory Government will report against the closing the gap targets every year. It will also have special evaluation of remote service delivery – to make sure it is really helping remote towns and communities achieve A Working Future.

More information: If you want to know more about A Working Future, you can call us on 08 8999 5270 or contact your local Government Business Manager.

Download A Working Future factsheet (PDF 356kb)

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