The Northern Territory will welcome whatever help it gets in the federal budget after its own woeful budget last Tuesday revealed soaring debts, deficits and predictions of a weak post-gas boom economy.
The Labor Gunner government's biggest gripe is that GST revenue has been "unfairly" slashed by billions of dollars, causing its financial woes.
That won't be addressed by the budget with a GST inquiry ongoing.
NT Treasurer Nicole Manison said she would like the budget to include actual funds to go with the prime minister and NT chief minister's agreement of 12 months ago to work on a Darwin City Deal.
The City Deal involves money to grow and improve cities for the future, with work already starting in Launceston, Townsville and Western Sydney.
Ms Manison would also like federal money to add to the $229 million the NT will use to enact the recommendations of the royal commission into abuses in the juvenile detention system.
"The federal government hasn't committed funds to that so we welcome any more funding there," Ms Manison told AAP.
One thing the Labor government and Country Liberal opposition agree on is that they would like federal budget funds for infrastructure in remote areas.
That includes roads and bridges to access areas with rough tracks that are often left isolated during the wet season.
"It will help not just primary industries, fisheries, the cattle industry, the horticultural industry but also tourism, which we want to grow in these areas," CLP leader Gary Higgins said.
