Darwin Major Business Group
An independent voice on economic development in the Northern Territory.
Darwin Major Business Group (DMBG) brings together senior business leaders to contribute informed, constructive and long-term perspectives on the Territory’s economic future.
About DMGB
Darwin Major Business Group Ltd (DMBG) is an independent, member-based organisation established to provide a considered business perspective on the Northern Territory’s economic direction.
DMBG operates as a platform for collaboration, analysis and advocacy, with a focus on long-term economic outcomes for the Northern Territory.
Key Initiatives & Partnerships
AEC Economic Report
Independent economic analysis of the Northern Territory
Facing North
National engagement on Northern Territory opportunity
Investment Summit 2025
Delivered in partnership with the Northern Territory Government
What We Do
Economic Analysis & Insight
DMBG supports evidence-based discussion through commissioned research and economic reporting on the Northern Territory.
Advocacy & Policy Engagement
We engage constructively with governments and decision-makers to inform policy settings that support sustainable economic growth.
Convening & Dialogue
DMBG fosters informed discussion on investment, workforce and development priorities involving business, government and the community.
Latest from DMBG
October 4, 2026
Aged care belongs in the Territory’s economic conversation. Saturday's NT News reporting on gaps in the Northern Territory’s aged-care system raises an important question: can people build a life here with confidence that appropriate care will be available as they grow older? Older Territorians deserve safe, dignified care, close to their families and communities. Many have spent decades helping build the Territory we know today. For the Darwin Major Business Group, aged care also has a direct connection to population retention, workforce participation and economic growth. When suitable care is unavailable, the consequences reach across generations. Families may face difficult decisions about relocating. Working carers may need to reduce their hours or leave employment. People ready to leave hospital may remain there because appropriate support is unavailable. These pressures affect households, employers and the wider community. Growing the Territory means creating the conditions for people to stay through different stages of life. Housing, health services and aged care all contribute to that confidence. The planned Palmerston aged-care facility is an important part of the response. We also need: A clear delivery timetable and practical support for people awaiting care now. Reliable home care and respite, alongside residential services. The workforce, training and accommodation needed to deliver that care across urban, regional and remote communities. The Commonwealth and Territory governments need to turn commitments into accessible services, with clear responsibilities and measurable progress. A stronger Territory economy depends on communities where people can work, raise families and grow older with confidence.
September 30, 2026
Growing visitor expenditure is welcome news for the Territory’s economy. Tourism Research Australia ’s latest figures show overnight visitor spending reached $2.36 billion in 2025-26, up 24%. Interstate overnight trips increased 7.1%, while international visits grew 9%. These are encouraging results for Territory tourism and hospitality operators, and for the many businesses that supply and support them. The benefits extend through accommodation, restaurants, retail, transport, events and local supply chains, creating opportunities in Darwin, regional towns and remote communities. DMBG recognises the operators and their teams whose investment and persistence underpin the visitor economy. The next step is to turn this spending growth into sustained business confidence, stronger profitability and year-round employment. Overall overnight trips remained broadly steady, so there is still work to do to broaden demand and encourage longer stays. Reliable and affordable air access, resilient roads, workforce availability and timely investment approvals all matter. Businesses need confidence to invest in better experiences, expand capacity and employ more Territorians. Tourism is an important part of a diverse Territory economy. These results give us something positive to build on.
September 30, 2026
The Territory’s next wave of major investment must deliver lasting benefits across our economy. Today’s NT News coverage of INPEX 's proposed Bonaparte carbon capture and storage project and Minister Gerard Maley MLA’s participation in the Energy Nation Forum in Sydney highlights the scale of the Territory’s opportunity. DMBG welcomes Minister Maley taking the Territory’s case directly to national industry leaders and policymakers. Ensuring the Beetaloo’s potential, and the infrastructure needed to realise it, is understood nationally is important for our economic future. These opportunities extend across construction, transport, logistics, engineering, training, accommodation and professional services, as well as the new industries that reliable energy and shared infrastructure could support. Realising those opportunities requires preparation now. DMBG’s Beetaloo Development Outlook examines what the Territory needs to do over the next decade to prepare for potential development and translate that investment into lasting economic benefits. Territory businesses are prepared to invest and take commercial risks, but their capacity to carry prolonged uncertainty is finite. They need confidence that the infrastructure, approvals and policy settings required for development will be in place. Governments have a practical role to play: accelerating approval decisions, removing unnecessary red and green tape, and coordinating investment in essential infrastructure. Rigorous environmental assessment can be delivered through clear requirements, coordinated processes and firm decision-making timeframes. Where high upfront costs prevent essential infrastructure from proceeding, governments should also consider targeted underwriting or co-investment, backed by a strong business case, appropriate risk sharing and demonstrable long-term public value. That confidence will help Territory businesses commit capital, build capacity and employ people. Preparation also means connecting training to emerging jobs and planning housing and services alongside workforce growth. Respectful partnerships with Traditional Owners and Aboriginal businesses must help shape how development proceeds and how benefits are shared. The Territory has an important contribution to make to national energy security. DMBG’s priority is to ensure that development also strengthens the economy here at home. Success should be measured by the lasting capability we build: stronger local businesses, meaningful employment and a more diverse and resilient Territory economy.
