Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/ValentinValkov
The NT Government wants to position the Territory to take advantage of growth in the drone industry, a sector which is forecast to reach US$43 billion globally by 2025.
The Territory sees itself as being ideally placed for the utilisation of drone services, and to provide locations for the testing of drone-based solutions in remote settings and extreme environmental conditions.
“The Territory is uniquely placed with its location, geography and climate and there is a clear opportunity for the Territory to engage in the fast growing drones market and be at the forefront of innovation,” said NT Minister for Digital and Corporate Development, Paul Kirby.
The NT Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade (DITT) has released a direction paper for public consultation that “identifies four priority opportunities for government and industry to work together”:
- Delivery of planned and ad hoc supplies to remote areas (eg. medical and food supplies)
- Weed management and biosecurity-control
- Enabling data sharing and publically available data
- Commercial drone research and testing
DITT is seeking feedback from:
- Drones service providers
- Users of drones services across Territory industries
- Educational institutions
- Land councils
- Police, fire and emergency services organisations
- The general public
“The drones industry has the potential to deliver direct jobs and investment for the Territory, while boosting some of our key industries and improving important services to Territorians,” the Minister said.
“Industries that would benefit from drone technology include health, defence, agribusiness, maritime, mines and energy, as well as fire and disaster management.
The development of digital industry, including the role drones can play in the Territory’s economic growth, is one of the recommendations from the final Territory Economic Reconstruction Commission report.
The directions paper and online survey can be found at https://haveyoursay.nt.gov.au/nt-drones-policy. The survey closes on 17 August 2021.
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