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Territory Q

Darwin Today

28.43° / 28.43°

14:18pm 15th July, 2025

Business
- PHOEBE BARDSLEY Phoebe Bardsley had one of those lightbulb moments while studying health service data. The bare statistics clearly showed that the Australian health industry has a growing problem – the maldistribution of skilled medical staff. Phoebe decided that rather than just analyse the challenge, she would do something about it. Go Locum was...Read more
- TONY AND LIBBY Tony Smith admits that the best thing that has happened to him is Libby Prell. The couple met at the Uluru Motel in the shadow of the Rock one cold but clear-sky day in July 1980 after Libby arrived with her backpack to work. Libby quickly demonstrated her competence in the bar and housekeeping – she declined an office job because she...Read more
- JAKE EGGLETON Success in business isn’t about luck — it’s about risk, resilience and execution. Jake Eggleton built Fuel Drop and Darwin Logistics from the ground up. But it wasn’t easy – and it certainly wasn’t handed to him. Today, his companies supply fuel and road train transport to some of the Northern Territory’s biggest industries,...Read more
- HELPING BUSINESS GROW In a study of NT companies that have completed the BAP program, the average graduate reported an average increase of 22 percent in revenue growth after two years and a 21 percent increase in the rate of job growth. One of the companies benefiting is Fuel Drop, whose owner Jake Eggleton is undertaking the Growth Ramp program. “It’s a...Read more
Major Projects
- SITZLER KEEPS FAITH WITH TERRITORIANS The overpass at the junction of Tiger Brennan Drive and Berrimah Road in Darwin will improve road safety, reduce traffic delays and enhance important freight transport links. Nearly 20,000 vehicles travel on Tiger Brennan Drive each day, commuting between Darwin, Palmerston and the rural areas. The busy intersection has been the scene of...Read more
- JAYTEX’S NEW CHAPTER IN LEADERSHIP AND GROWTH Established in 1997, it has grown from modest beginnings into one of the Northern Territory’s premier construction companies, renowned for its reliability, dedication and unwavering commitment to quality. With a diverse portfolio of high-profile projects, including SWELL Palmerston, Darwin Corporate Park, NT Motorcycle Centre and, more...Read more
- SITZLER’S MANTRA: TRUST THE LOCALS The company’s commitment to buyinglocal whenever possible was illustrated dramatically when 13-year Sitzler veteran Michael Zampa was appointed Indigenous Business Enterprise Operations Manager. He says Managing Director Steve Margetic and Director Michael Sitzler have a “locals, locals, locals” policy. “Even when working in remote...Read more
- NTEX TURNS TRASH INTO TREASURE But over the past four years founder Gerry Breen has pivoted the business to be experts in the circular economy. NTEX are taking one man’s trash and literally turning it into treasure, recycling and repurposing on average over 90 percent of the waste from their demolition projects. They’ve also moved away from straight civil construction...Read more
Resources
- AUSTRALIA’S CHANCE TO BE A SUPERPOWER The Barossa Gas Project, a gas and condensate field in the Arafura Sea, 285 kilometres north-west of Darwin, will backfill Santos-operated Darwin LNG at Wickham Point. The first gas is expected to be produced in the third quarter of this year. Barossa is replacing supply from the Bayu-Undan fieldin Timor-Leste waters. The $4.7 billion...Read more
- TAMBORAN DRIVES OUR GAS FUTURE Economists believe that the commercial development of shale gas will transform the Northern Territory’s economy indefinitely by directly and indirectly creating thousands of well-paid jobs. Beyond this, Tamboran’s proposed NTLNG facility at Middle Arm will further position Australia as a leading gas exporter, generating billions in revenue...Read more
- GAS PART OF OUR HISTORY Activists trying to halt the job-creating Middle Arm industrial development and who are scaremongering and spreading misinformation among Traditional Owners about Beetaloo should take heed of the failed Barossa project challenge in the Federal Court. The findings have set the standard of proof required to support an assertion that a project is...Read more
- TERRITORY’S GAS-FIRED ECONOMY Fast-growing Asian economies led to an increase in gas demand of 2.8 percent in 2024, above the 2 percent average growth rate between 2010 and 2020. The greater demand necessitating greater supply is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Australia – and the Territory in particular – to create wealth through a strong, diverse and...Read more
Primary Industry
- NT LIVESTOCK EXPORTERS ASSOCIATION The Northern Territory is cattle country. In the late 1800s, pastoralism drove the settlement of the Territory, provided its first jobs and led to further economic development. More than 150 years on, the industry continues to grow and evolve, contributing over $1.2 billion per year to the Territory’s GDP. The first shipments of cattle...Read more
- BEEFING UP THE BUSINESS The Australian beef industry is heavily reliant on export markets, with over 60% of its beef production being exported. In 2019, Australia exported 72% of its beef and veal production, with China accounting for 24% of these exports. The primary export destinations for Australian beef in 2024 include the United States, Korea, and Japan. With the...Read more
- BEEF REPORT Key points: Indonesia faces beef supply challenges ahead of Ramadan. Import quotas remain uncertain as demand surges. Pakistan emerges as a new buffalo meat supplier in Indonesia, adding competition to Australia’s cattle exports. Vietnam Government restructures. Indian buffalo meat (IBM) has become a mainstay in most Asian...Read more
- BEEF REPORT Key points: The future of Indian buffalo meat (IBM) imports to Indonesia up in the air Cross-border cattle movement into Vietnam from Myanmar and Thailand continues, exacerbated by political instability and lax enforcement, increasing disease risks Aussie dairy cattle expected to help with Philippines efforts to achieve 5 percent milk...Read more
Infrastructure
- SITZLER SUCCEEDS WITH PASSION AND INTEGRITY The business is based on the simple premise of honesty and integrity – the company’s professionalism and passion for design, construction and project management has ensured continual growth on a national scale through repeat business. A key advantage is how Sitzler operates – not as separate State or Territory-based entities but as a...Read more
- OSTOJIC LEADS RECYCLING REVOLUTION Darwin-based Ostojic Group is reprocessing waste concrete so that it is suitable as paving. The concrete used to be sent to a rubbish tip. Private contractors and the Territory Government are using the recycled concrete after rigorous tests showed that it is up to standard. The NT Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics gave...Read more
- AIRPORT RESORT MUSIC TO THE NT’S EARS It’s a standalone attraction for visitors and a luxury jumping off point for the Top End. Airport Development Group has invested $30 million on giving the two hotels next to Darwin International Airport a spectacular facelift. This was the culmination of a vision that started in 2021 when ADG saw the opportunity to buy the Mercure and...Read more
- SUNBUILD SALUTED They picked up a new award, the $20- 50 million Defence building category, for the North West Mobile Force Regimental HQ within the Larrakeyah Defence Precinct in Darwin. It was the Territory born-and-bred company’s 40th Master Builders trophy over the past three decades, a testament to the drive to deliver innovative, quality projects –...Read more
Education
- ESSINGTON SCHOOL The Essington School once again demonstrated its leadership in academic excellence, with Year12 students achieving outstanding results in the Northern Territory Certificate of Education and Training (NTCET) in December 2024. Year after year, Essington students rise to the challenge, consistently ranking among the highest achievers in the...Read more
- DANALA Charles Darwin University’s striking new campus has been named Danala, the Larrakia name for the dillybag. And that’s appropriate – not just because Darwin is on Larrakia country but also because the traditional dillybag represents a place to house and store knowledge. Even though the new campus is primarily a place of learning,...Read more
- SALTBUSH HERALDS NEW ERA IN JOBS This simple yet profound idea drives Foundation 2 Future, a groundbreaking initiative that is empowering Aboriginal Territorians to move beyond welfare dependency and into meaningful, sustainable careers. The innovative program, created by Saltbush Social Enterprises, an organisation founded by passionate Northern Territory...Read more
- INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS LOVE THE TERRITORY “It’s so friendly and welcoming,” he says. “Everybody seems to know everybody else. It’s a very close-knit community. “People are willing to give you a helping hand. I’ve made a lot of friends.” He believes the Territory is an ideal place for international students because it is small, multicultural and accepting...Read more
Indigenous Affairs
- WATER THAT CHANGES LIVES When people choose AIG’s Remote Laundry bottled water, they are not just hydrating –they are contributing to a groundbreaking initiative that empowers Aboriginal communities. AIG Remote Laundries have been operating since 2019, providing essential laundry services in some of the most remote regions of the NT. By the end of 2025, it had...Read more
- KALANO AT 50 One of Australia’s most effective yet least-known Indigenous organisations, Kalano CommunityAssociation, is celebrating 50 years of service, pride and progress. Kalano was established to meet the needs of Aboriginal communities in Katherine and surrounding communities. It evolved into a leading organisation providing housing, health,...Read more
- WADEYE’S THEIR OYSTER Humpty Doo Barramundi is working with the Thamarrurr Development Corporation to start up an oyster farm at Wadeye, 400 kilometres south-west of Darwin by road. Indigenous workers have undergone training at the barramundi farm and in their own community. Aloysius Nganbe, who is a ranger at Wadeye, was one of eight men who visited...Read more
- Territory Pioneer – Witiyana Marika “It’s about bringing Yolngu and balanda – white people – together,” he says. Witiyana is a Rirratjingu man, the Traditional Owners of the Gove Peninsula, and he wears that label with pride. He was a founding member of the iconic Aboriginal musical group Yothu Yindi. His love for music began with a childhood...Read more
Blak Business
- CULTIVATING INDIGENOUS EXCELLENCE Thanks to the pioneering efforts of the First Nations Botanical Bushfoods Alliance Australia (FNBBAA), the world can now embrace the exquisite flavours of ethically sourced, organic bush foods and botanicals directly sourced from our own backyard, treasured by Indigenous communities for over 60,000 years. This journey guarantees not only...Read more
- ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO COUNTRY We recognise Countrymen from all over the nation, and are proud of the resilience, strength and survival of our people. We are grateful for each unique nation across Australia that so generously shares their space, time and stories with us. We recognise, respect, prioritise and preference Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander...Read more
- MEANINGFUL ABORIGINAL EMPLOYMENT IS GREAT, BUT PARTICIPATION IS KEY Guided by their core beliefs, NTIBN stands at the forefront of shaping policies such as the Commonwealth Indigenous Procurement Policy (IPP) and the NT Government's Aboriginal Procurement Policy (APP). They tackle critical issues, including the menacing practice of Blak Cladding, and work towards creating solutions that drive meaningful change...Read more
- UNLOCKING THE BENEFITS OF NTIBN MEMBERSHIP With an emphasis on upholding authenticity and integrity, NTIBN boasts one of the most robust certification processes in Australia, safeguarding the Blak Business sector against detrimental practices such as Black Cladding. Chair Naomi Anstess says: “Joining NTIBN is not only a strategic investment in your business's success, but it...Read more
Innovation
- CROC PITCH RUNNER-UP WINS $1M+ INVESTMENT This is what happened to US-based logistics drone specialist Blueﬂite, when the company secured $1 million-plus in venture capital investment shortly after “losing” the contest in 2023. The 6th Croc Pitch contest, sponsored by Paspalis and hosted by the Darwin Innovation Hub, will take place in October 2024. Contestants can receive up to...Read more
- Australia’s First Carbon-Fibre Hydrogen Fuel Tank Vessel Blueflite, a company that has received venture capital from a co-investment fund partnership between Paspalis and the Northern Territory’s Local Jobs Fund, is modernising logistics with its advanced cargo drone platform. Recently, Alex Farrugia, Investment Manager at Paspalis, and Frank Noppel, CEO of Blueflite, visited the North Australian...Read more
- Equatorial Space Systems: Pioneering Space InnovationH150 Equatorial Space Systems (ESS), a leading innovator in hybrid rocket propulsion, is making significant advancements in the aerospace sector. Founder and CEO Simon Gwozdz recently flew in from Singapore to prepare for the company’s upcoming static firings and test launch campaigns. His visit also marked the finalisation of the US$1.5 million...Read more
- INVESTING IN DUAL-USE TECH IN THE TERRITORY Dual-use is not new to the Territory. In 2019, Paspalis invested in awardwinning SPEE3D, which had an innovative approach to 3D printing that allowed for the rapid and cost-effective production of metal parts. Since then, SPEE3D has advanced its capabilities to support critical needs, such as supplying Ukraine’s frontlines with essential repair...Read more
Travel
- KNOW YOUR CHINESE CUSTOMER Harsh words, but all too often accurate. Of course, it’s rare that these approaches are stated so obviously, but it doesn’t take much effort to see them subtly at work. It’s an invidious process that can kill a business proposal. I was recently asked to help with a product aimed at Chinese consumers. The manager...Read more
- Glide into the heart of Europe If you are looking for a holiday that has everything done for you, pick a Viking River Cruise. I had never been to Europe and got to experience 15 wonderful days exploring 900-year-old castles, eating my way across the Netherlands, Austria, Germany and Hungary, immersed in Mozart in Vienna and toured Nuremberg’s Second World War art...Read more
- NAUTILUS FLIES HIGH IN THE NT Nautilus has a fleet of 39 helicopters and employs 118 staff, including 40 pilots, at eight bases across Northern Australia. It has a successful Indigenous employment program: two Indigenous Territorians work at Nautilus’s Darwin Airport base – Jamie Dawson as a pilot and Jai Nadjamerrek as part of the operations crew. Jai also has...Read more
- DESTINATION DARWIN They will carry about 60,000 passengers and crew – and contribute $65 million to the Northern Territory economy. Importantly, 45,000 of the visitors are arriving in the traditionally quieter tourism months, between October and April. Luxury cruise ship Celebrity Edge arrived in Darwin in early December, carrying 2809 passengers and...Read more
Current Issue
- Croc Pitch...Read more
- Empowering the Next Generation of Tech Talent Designed especially for post-graduation and early-career students, the program helps fill critical skills gaps in the Northern Territory while encouraging talented individuals to stay in Darwin, launch careers, and even start businesses locally. “Many of our participants come from IT, cybersecurity, or data science backgrounds. But with the...Read more
- Esper sets sights on growth after Croc Pitch win in 2024 propels hyperspectral success The Melbourne-based company’s low-cost hyperspectral imaging sensors — mounted on satellites — are enabling faster, cheaper and less disruptive mineral exploration. Mining companies scanning the Northern Territory’s vast terrain can now pinpoint promising drill targets with speed and precision. “Croc Pitch marked an important step...Read more
- TONY AND LIBBY Tony Smith admits that the best thing that has happened to him is Libby Prell. The couple met at the Uluru Motel in the shadow of the Rock one cold but clear-sky day in July 1980 after Libby arrived with her backpack to work. Libby quickly demonstrated her competence in the bar and housekeeping – she declined an office job because she...Read more

Croc Pitch

Image of TQ Staff

Words by TQ Staff Published 15 July 2025

TQVol48_V3_web_Page_28

TQVol48_V3_web_Page_28

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Territory Q is the premium business and industry magazine of the Northern Territory. We are an independent, private enterprise determined to offer an integrated and inclusive platform to the entire business community to engage in sharing information, inspiration, motivation, education and conversation to each other – and the world at large.

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