Australia’s future security will be decided as much in Darwin as in Canberra. NT Defence Week 2025 made that reality unmistakably clear, showcasing the Northern Territory not as a remote outpost, but as the operational heart of Australia’s Indo-Pacific defence posture. To translate this momentum into lasting capability, government and industry must act with intent: investing in sovereign infrastructure, locking in supply chains and treating the north as the strategic asset it truly is.
Last week, more than 400 national and international government and industry representatives gathered in Larrakia Country to attend the Northern Australia Defence Summit and multiple supporting events hosted by DefenceNT, the Department of Defence, and industry leaders. The gathering collectively recognised the NT’s strategic importance and vitality in the regional security framework.
DefenceNT has set a clear and strategically aligned agenda to strengthen the NT’s role as a frontline enabler of Australia’s Indo-Pacific defence posture. Central to this is developing robust logistics and pre-positioning capabilities, which are vital for ensuring the Australian Defence Force and its partners can respond rapidly and decisively across a contested and dynamic region. The focus on army littoral manoeuvre basing reflects a pragmatic understanding of the operational demands of maritime and archipelagic warfare.
Attracting defence industry supply chains and accelerating investment in the northern bases pipeline are not only strategic necessities but present economic opportunities as well. Deepening integration with the United States through force posture initiatives, alongside expanding partnerships with Japan and other trusted regional partners, reinforces the territory’s position as a cornerstone of regional deterrence and collective security.
NT Defence Week 2025 demonstrated the NT’s strategic value, highlighting the depth of local capability and the untapped potential of northern industry. Direct engagement with defence stakeholders reinforced that resilient, locally anchored supply chains are crucial to sustaining future ADF operations. The rollout of new defence platforms has created a surge in demand for maintenance and sustainment services, opening the door to long-term regional economic and strategic benefits. Panel discussions addressed key enablers, including infrastructure development, regional collaboration and the ability to support a persistent operational presence. Across the week, one message was clear: certainty in project pipelines beyond current forward estimates is essential to unlocking industry investment and aligning northern development with the goals of the Integrated Investment Program, which guides investment to support the National Defence Strategy.
Defence capability in the NT is inseparable from infrastructure supporting energy, transport, water, digital connectivity, and sovereign industrial capacity. The NT is uniquely suited to support sustained multi-domain operations, from the Beetaloo Basin and renewable energy networks, to liquid fuel supply chains and strategic logistics hubs such as Darwin Port and Middle Arm. Water security initiatives and digital technologies such as undersea cables further enhance the territory’s operational resilience, while its strength in critical minerals, agribusiness, and space technology makes it dual-purpose powerhouse for national defence and economic security.
However, the scale of investment required to fully realise this potential exceeds what Defence alone can deliver under the current Integrated Investment Program. This creates an opening for private sector to lead the development of dual-use infrastructure, particularly in liquid fuel production, logistics connectivity, sovereign manufacturing, and sustainment hubs. Unlocking this opportunity demands greater certainty from Defence on project timelines and funding beyond existing forward estimates.
As NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro stated during the event, the NT is not a remote outpost; it is Australia’s frontline in the Indo-Pacific. That view was reinforced by retired US Marine Corps Lieutenant General John Wissler, who described the territory as an essential launch point for integrated, long-range operations across all five domains.
NT Defence Week 2025 made unequivocally clear that the territory is indispensable to Australia’s long-term defence strategy. Turning that recognition into action demands sustained partnerships, targeted investment, and a shared commitment to building the north as a strategic asset—not just for today, but for decades to come.