The Finocchiaro Government has named former INPEX NT general manager Stuart Knowles as the interim Territory Coordinator, on the same day it publicly released its proposed legislation that would give the position and the Chief Minister sweeping powers to exempt certain projects from environmental and other regulatory processes.

The legislation to create the Territory Coordinator position has been criticised by environmental groups as an overreach of power and anti-democratic, while Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said on Thursday the “independent” statutory officer would streamline coordination of significant projects, while “enhancing the Territory’s economic competitiveness”.

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