$15,000 on offer for families willing to move to the Northern Territory

The Northern Territory wants more people to come and live up north and is offering cash incentives to families, couples and individuals willing to do so.

 

The government says it will invest $9.3 million to attract more people, including migrants, to the Territory with families being  offered more than $15, 000 over five years to move to NT to work in ""high priority jobs"".

 

This announcement is part of the Northern Territory Population Growth Strategy 2018-2028, where the government hopes to add 21, 000 new jobs and $10.4 billion to the NT’s economy in the next decade. 

 

The incentives include relocation costs, one-off local spending benefit and retention bonus and will be made available to individuals, couples and families willing to move to NT.

 

Singles will receive $3000, couples will receive $6000 and families will receive $7000 as a relocation bonus.

The one-off local spending benefit of $1250 will be offered after six months of living in the NT which may be used towards costs incurred within the Territory, including vehicle registration, child care and eating out.

 

After five years in the Territory, families will receive another $7000 retention bonus, Singles and couples will receive $3000 and $6000 respectively.

 

""Just about every regional centre in Australia is trying to grow their population. It's a national trend, "" Chief Minister Michael Gunner said.

 

“From November 2018, people who migrate to the Northern Territory from interstate and enter High Priority occupations listed on the Northern Territory Skilled Occupation Priority List will be eligible for these incentives, ” the strategy says.

 

Over 53 occupations have been listed as high priority occupations and it includes accountants, hotel managers, software engineers and mechanical engineers.

 

 

* Four digit ANZSCO Unit Group code incorporates occupations within this group. Example ANZSCO Unit Group code 2544 - Registered Nurses has 13 individual occupations within the next level.

 

The strategy mentions research conducted by the Charles Darwin University’s Northern Institute which found five years is the tipping point after which new residents are most likely to remain long-term.

 

Forecasts show the Territory’s population is likely to fall by 0.7 per cent this financial year.

 

This population plan aims to arrest that decline and return growth to its historical average of 1.4 per cent.