This overview draws together Phil’s commitments to First Nations justice and wellbeing in Darwin and Palmerston, as outlined across his broader policy platform.

Listening, learning and empowering

• I am committed to achieving Closing the Gap Priority Reform 1: empowering local First Nations communities to drive decision-making, providing support to community-controlled organisations to meet challenges and grow stronger.
• I will ensure First Nations voices are heard in all federal policies that affect them — with particular respect for Larrakia leadership in the Solomon electorate.
• I will maintain strong working relationships with Larrakia leaders — Traditional Owners of the Darwin region — and continue to learn from their history, culture and vision for the future.
• I will support Larrakia priorities — from language and culture programs to land tenure and opportunities for the wider community to learn from Larrakia knowledge.

Safe homes 

• Every child deserves a safe home — the foundation for health, education and opportunity.
• I will amplify the voices of First Nations women in national efforts to end violence against women and children.
• I will tackling homelessness and rental stress by fast-tracking social & affordable housing projects.

Health 

I will work to:

• Meet all Closing the Gap health targets, including healthy birth weights and early development milestones.
• Lift First Nations health outcomes in the NT to parity — reducing long-term health system demand by supporting better life-long health.
• Ensure Darwin and Palmerston's health services are resourced to meet demand from regional patients.
• Partner with the Territory government and Aboriginal health services to guarantee federal funding goes to evidence-based health policies — such as alcohol harm reduction — not laws that worsen harm.
• Expand trauma-informed training across the public service.
• Support locally-led health research, policy and education through collaboration with Top End experts.
  
  

Education & youth

I will:

• Push for urgent construction of the new Youth Shack in Casuarina using existing federal funding.
• Work with the new National Commission for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People to deliver fully resourced, evidence-based policy in the NT.
• Deliver better school funding so teachers can teach — with specialist staff to address barriers to learning.
• Expand free early childhood education access, without activity testing.
• Support fee-free TAFE and apprenticeship incentives to open up future pathways.
  
  

Aged Care

• Urgently address the shortage of aged care places in the NT.
• Ensure families have access to culturally-appropriate care that respects choice and connection.
  
  

Economic opportunities

• Partner with Larrakia organisations to build long-term capacity and leadership, backed by proper resourcing.
• Align skills development with sustainable local industries to grow a future-ready workforce.
• Keep NT wealth in the NT by prioritising First Nations and other local businesses in government contracts.
  
  

Safety, diversion and justice 

I will work to:

• Fulfil federal responsibilities to reduce First Nations incarceration, in line with the Closing the Gap agreement.
• Implement the NT Coroner’s 2024 recommendations on recent First Nations deaths in custody, working with the Territory government.
• Prioritise youth diversion and support to keep young people safe and on track.
• Properly resource frontline services and support the people who power them.
• Address root causes of crime including alcohol abuse, housing stress, social isolation and intergenerational trauma.
• Support measures in the justice system to hold offenders to account, and keep victims safe from re-offending.
• Fund local rehabilitation services to reduce re-offending and support recovery.
  
  

Country and climate - local, NT, national and global

I will work to:

• Boost investment in Caring for Country and Indigenous Protected Areas — creating cultural, environmental, health and economic benefits.
• Reform the weak federal environmental laws to truly protect Country.
• End new federal investment in fossil fuels that threaten land and sea Country.
• Redirect the $1.5 billion for a Middle Arm petrochemical hub into sustainable local industries and essential services — with community input.
  
  

Phil is also engaging with First Nations leaders on key federal responsibilities including Land Rights, Native Title, anti-discrimination protections and remote access to services — with further policy development to come.