The peak body representing Indigenous businesses in the Northern Territory has expressed disappointment at ongoing obstacles to Aboriginal economic participation after the NT government released its 2025-26 Budget.

The Northern Territory Indigenous Business Network said that while the Budget allocated significant funds to justice investment and other initiatives to enhance community safety, there was little emphasis on investing in Indigenous-led economic initiatives to foster long-term community resilience and prosperity.

Limited access to funding, government contracts favoring large non-Indigenous companies, and the absence of specific strategies to support Aboriginal businesses were just some of the barriers that remained for the industry.

NTIBN expressed concerns about the limited focus on Indigenous economic development, and the lack of targeted support for Aboriginal businesses.

"We recognise the investments outlined in housing, health, education, and infrastructure as essential to improving the overall wellbeing of our people and communities," CEO Naomi Anstess said.

"However from the perspective of Aboriginal business and economic development, the Budget once again falls short of delivering a bold and transformational commitment to growing the Aboriginal economy, as a key economic pillar of the NT's future."

While funding allocations to Aboriginal housing, justice reinvestment, and local decision-making were welcomed, there was a notable absence of dedicated, long-term and scalable investment in Aboriginal-led economic development, procurement reform, and Indigenous business capability building.

"Aboriginal businesses in the Territory are not charity or social programs – we are employers, service providers, manufacturers, exporters, and investors," Ms Anstess said.

"We generate real jobs, contribute to economic growth, and reinvest in our communities.

"Yet the structural barriers to Aboriginal economic participation remain, including limited access to capital, government procurement practices that favour large non-Indigenous contractors, and a lack of targeted industry development strategies for Aboriginal enterprises."

Ms Anstess also lamented the NT Government's introduction on Thursday of the Sacred Sites Bill to Parliament, without what she said was genuine consultation or proper consideration of Aboriginal Territorians as rightful land and sea custodians.

"These actions make it undeniably clear that the government is actively undermining real economic opportunities for Aboriginal people," she told National Indigenous Times.

"For this government, 'cutting red tape' has become code for cutting Aboriginal voices; removing our rights to make decisions about our Country, our sacred sites, and our economic futures."

Ms Anstess said the move only further dismantled Aboriginal self-determination and undid generations of work by First Nations people to have their lands and waters protected and respected.

She said Aboriginal Territorians were not opposed to development but they were against moves to disregard global standards of Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), as well as actions to circumnavigate, or water down, Native Title and Aboriginal land and sea rights and legislation.

"Traditional Owners and land councils have actively called on this NT Government for the opportunity to be involved in any reform to this space – but they have been shut out," she said.

"This lays bare the stark and troubling reality of the current approach to Aboriginal affairs in the Territory; a deep imbalance between investments in punitive social control and meaningful measures that support genuine Aboriginal economic empowerment."

The NTIBN called on the NT government to commit to a whole-of-government Aboriginal economic development strategy with measurable targets, led by Aboriginal people, for Aboriginal people.

It also wants to expand and enforce Aboriginal Procurement Policy targets across all agencies, ensuring not just contract awards, but real engagement with Aboriginal businesses in delivery.

Ms Anstess said supporting Aboriginal participation in emerging industries, such as renewable energy, digital services, construction, and bush foods through co-designed development plans and investment partnerships, was critical.

"Our people have the talent, the solutions, and the drive to build a stronger Northern Territory economy," she said.

"What we need is a government that sees us as partners, not just stakeholders."

She said the NTIBN remained steadfast in its commitment to working with the NT Government and ensuring Aboriginal business was not an afterthought but a key driver of the Territory's prosperity.

"NTIBN stands ready to lead this work in partnership with our people, our businesses, and the industries that understand the value of Aboriginal economic participation," Ms Anstess said.

"We extend an open invitation to government leaders to work with NTIBN and our peak partners at APO NT (Aboriginal Peak Organisations Northern Territory) to make this ambition a reality."