Job creation initiatives for the Northern Territory must be included in the federal budget to ease the pain of savage GST cuts, Territory Treasurer Nicole Manison says.
The treasurer recently announced the axing of 300 public service positions as her government goes about the tough job of budget repair.
Debt is projected to soar to a massive $35.7 billion in a decade without fiscal changes and the government is already borrowing to meet operational costs including staff wages.
"Following their brutal $500 million annual reduction in the Territory's GST, the federal government must invest in job-creating projects for the Territory," Ms Manison told AAP.
The treasurer said the NT government was also looking for commitments from the commonwealth to better develop northern Australia and to close the gap on indigenous disadvantage.
Announcing the public sector job losses earlier this year Ms Manison said the government was faced with tough decisions in the wake of the $867 million deficit left by the previous administration and the GST shortfall.
"Fixing the budget allows us to keep investing in job-creating projects, tackling crime and generational change," she said.
NT Opposition Leader Gary Higgins said he looked forward to Tuesday's budget providing tax relief to businesses and individuals and a continuing commitment to infrastructure funding of the Northern Australia program.
"We would hope they will fast track beef roads for our important cattle industry and continue to recognise and fund programs to address the high level of disadvantage of Aboriginal Territorians," Mr Higgins said.
