NT Chamber of Commerce Business Confidence Survey 2023

Business Confidence Survey

The Chamber of Commerce’s long-running Business Confidence Survey is now open, and we absolutely want to hear from you.

The feedback from the survey will empower the Chamber to advocate for our members and the wider business community. It will enable us to challenge and question future decisions and support our role in driving economic development across the Territory.

The Chamber has members throughout the NT, city-based, regional and remote, all serviced by offices in Darwin, Katherine, and Alice Springs. Having a membership base of over 1100+ business through all regions allows the Chamber to be the Voice of Territory Business.

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* 1. Section One: About your business: In what state/territory is your head office located

Greater Darwin (Darwin, Palmerston & Litchfield)

East Arnhem

Central Australia

West Arnhem

Katherine and Big Rivers Region

Barkly Region

Interstate

International

Other (please specify)

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* 2. What NT regions do you do business in?

Greater Darwin Region (Darwin, Palmerston and Litchfield)

East Arnhem

Katherine

West Arnhem

Central Australia

Barkly Region

Interstate (please specify below)

International (please specify below)

Other (please specify)

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* 3. What primary industry does your business operate in?

Accommodation and Food Services – Accommodation, Food and Beverage Services

Administrative and Support Services - Administrative Services, Building Cleaning, Pest Control and Other Support Services

Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing - Agriculture, Aquaculture, Forestry and Logging, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping, Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Support Services

Arts and Recreation Services - Heritage Activities, Creative and Performing Arts Activities, Sports and Recreation Activities, Gambling Activities

Education and Training - Preschool and School Education, Tertiary Education, Adult, Community and Other Education services

Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services - Electricity Supply, Gas Supply, Water Supply, Sewerage and Drainage Services, Waste Collection, Treatment and Disposal Services

Financial and Insurance Services – Finance, Insurance and Superannuation Funds, Auxiliary Finance and Insurance Services

Information Media and Telecommunications - Publishing (except Internet and Music Publishing), Motion Picture and Sound Recording Activities, Broadcasting (except Internet), Internet Publishing and Broadcasting, Telecommunications Services, Internet Service Providers, Web Search Portals and Data Processing, Library and Other Information Services

Education and Training - Preschool and School Education, Tertiary Education, Adult, Community and Other Education services

Health Care and Social Assistance – Hospitals, Medical and Other Health Care Services, Residential Care Services, Social Assistance Services, Disability Services and Ages Care Services

Manufacturing - Food Product Manufacturing, Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing, Textile, Leather, Clothing and Footwear Manufacturing, Wood Product Manufacturing, Pulp, Paper and Converted Paper Product Manufacturing, Printing (including the Reproduction of Recorded Media), Petroleum and Coal Product Manufacturing, Basic Chemical and Chemical Product Manufacturing, Polymer Product and Rubber Product Manufacturing, Non-Metallic Mineral Product Manufacturing, Primary Metal and Metal Product Manufacturing, Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing, Transport Equipment Manufacturing, Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing, Furniture and Other Manufacturing.

Mining - Coal Mining, Oil and Gas Extraction, Metal Ore Mining, Non-Metallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying, Exploration and Other Mining Support Services, Coal Mining, Oil and Gas Extraction, Metal Ore Mining, Non-Metallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying, Exploration and Other Mining Support Services

Professional, Scientific and Technical Services - Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (Except Computer System Design and Related Services), Computer System Design and Related Services

Public Administration and Safety - Public Administration, Defence, Public Order, Safety and Regulatory

Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services - Rental and Hiring Services (except Real Estate), Property Operators and Real Estate Services

Retail Trade - Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts Retailing, Fuel Retailing, Food Retailing, Other Store-Based Retailing, Non-Store Retailing and Retail Commission-Based Buying and/or Selling

Tourism Industry - please list in "other" below your primary service i.e tour guides, accommodation services, bus or car service etc

Transport, Postal and Warehousing - Road Transport, Rail Transport, Water Transport, Air and Space Transport, Other Transport, Postal and Courier Pick-up and Delivery Services, Transport Support Services, Warehousing and Storage Services

Wholesale Trade - Basic Material Wholesaling, Machinery and Equipment Wholesaling, Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts Wholesaling, Grocery, Liquor and Tobacco Product Wholesaling, Other Goods Wholesaling, Commission-Based Wholesaling

Other Services - Repair and Maintenance, Personal and Other Services, Private Households Employing Staff and Undifferentiated Goods- and Service-Producing Activities of Households for Own Use

Other (please specify)

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* 4. What was the average number of FTE employees in your business during 2022?

100

Clear

i We adjusted the number you entered based on the slider’s scale.

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* 5. Are you an Indigenous-owned business? As defined by the NT Government Aboriginal Procurement Policy, the business must be registered with a certifying authority (such as NTIBN).

Yes

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* 6. Section Two: Business Confidence
How confident are you about the outlook for your business in 2023?

Very Worried

Very Confident

Clear

i We adjusted the number you entered based on the slider’s scale.

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* 7. How confident are you about the overall economic outlook in the Territory for 2023?

Very Worried

Very Confident

Clear

i We adjusted the number you entered based on the slider’s scale.

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* 8. Top reasons for confidence (select as many as apply)

The economy is starting to move

We have adapted our business model

Local people and businesses are spending

There are investment projects on the horizon

Governments have a greater focus on economic growth

Other (please specify)

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* 9. Top reasons for worry? (select as many as apply)

Costs of living is rising, reducing consumption

Costs of doing business are rising, putting pressure on margins

Major projects are taking too long to materialise

Social issues remain a major problem for my business

Access to land for development

Access to workforce

Access to housing for our workforce

Rising interest rates

International events

Other (please specify)

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* 10. Section Three: Impact of recent developments
The Reserve Bank continues to lift interest rates to try to mitigate inflation. What impact are rising interest rates having on your business?

Little impact – my business and its customers are not really affected

Moderate impact – my customers are spending less and my financing costs have risen

Severe impact – higher interest rates are reducing my turnover and lifting my costs

Other (please specify)

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* 11. The Australian Parliament recently passed major changes to industrial relations legislation. What impact do you expect these changes to have on your business?

Little impact – my business is below the threshold size of businesses that these changes will apply to

Moderate impact – my business will need to implement changes to our IR practices, but these will be manageable

Severe impact – my business is very concerned about costs of industrial disputation and increased wages

Unsure – I do not fully understand the changes and am unaware of the implications

Other (please specify)

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* 12. Section Four: The reality of workforce
Are you experiencing workforce shortages

Yes

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* 13. In question four you indicated how many FTE staff you have at the moment - if you fill all positions tomorrow what number of FTE workers would you have?

100

Clear

i We adjusted the number you entered based on the slider’s scale.

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* 14. What does your current workforce look like? Please tick each statement that applies to your business

The majority of staff work from my business premises

We have a flexible workplace with staff working both from home and on business premises

The majority of staff work in home-based offices

We have staff that live interstate and directly support NT business

We have staff that live overseas who directly support NT business

Other (please specify)

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* 15. If you are employing interstate, what are the main factors driving the decision? (select as many as apply)

Flexible workplace arrangements suit our business

Staff not willing to move due to livability challenges i.e housing, crime, family services

Affordability of wages of staff members located in the NT

Can’t get the skilled people required from the NT

Other (please specify)

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* 16. Section Five: Sustainability and your business
A business practice that is economically viable, socially responsible and environmentally friendly is usually regarded as being sustainable. Corporations that include socially responsible and environmentally sound policies as core elements in their growth strategy very often create sustainable economic values.
When you think of sustainable business practice – what statements do you agree with?

We have implemented sustainable business practices in our business

We are working towards sustainable practices in our business

This is not something we would consider as it would impact our profitability

I do not understand sustainable business practices but would like to learn more

I have no interest in learning about sustainable business practices

Other (please specify)

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* 17. If you would be interested in learning more about Sustainable Business, at what level is your knowledge of sustainable business practices?

None at all

Basic

Intermediate

High

Other (please specify)

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* 18. Section Six: Doing business in remote and regional areas. Businesses in regional and remote NT face particular challenges in starting up and operating. Please identify the top three hurdles faced by regional and remote businesses:

Poor or unreliable transport infrastructure such as roads

Poor telecommunications services such as slow internet speeds and mobile phone coverage

Shortages of suitable workers

High operating costs

Lack of business support services

Difficulties in accessing finance (loans etc)

Other (please specify)

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* 19. What are the top three ways in which businesses in regional and remote areas of the NT should be supported?

Provide support services tailored for regional and remote businesses, including local delivery

Facilitate access to finance tailored for regional and remote businesses

Improve telecommunications

Improve the road networks regional and remote areas

Reduce costs to business through such things as improved supply chains, lower energy costs

Other (please specify)

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* 20. Section Seven: Manufacturing in the Northern Territory. Do you consider yourself a manufacturer? (Note that for the Chamber of Commerce NT a Manufacturer is: Anyone who in the process of supplying a manufactured product, is involved in the design, uses raw material, parts, or components, and supports fabrication in the Territory)

No – however, we are in investigating/in the process of becoming a manufacturer

Yes – we have been manufacturing in the Territory for up to three years

Yes – we have been manufacturing in the Territory for over three years

Yes – we are a manufacturer however this process takes place interstate

Yes – we are a manufacturer however this process takes place internationally

Other (please specify)

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* 21. Are you involved in Australian Defence contracts?

Yes, directly

Yes, as a subcontractor

Yes, as part of the supply chain

Other (please specify)

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* 22. In the next year, are you planning to qualify to an industry standard for the business or for personnel (e.g. ISO, ASME, AS/ANZS, CC2/3 etc.) to maintain, or win, contracts?

Yes - please list in the comment box below which ones

Other (please specify)

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* 23. Section Eight: Business Support
Are you a Chamber member?

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* 24. How can the Chamber further support your business or economic activity in the NT?

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* 25. Would like to be contacted about any of the following:

Chamber Membership

Learn about Sustainable Business Practices

Pacific and Labor Scheme (PALM)

Workplace Relations/Industrial Relations Support

Apprenticeship/Traineeship Support

Local Jobs Program

Other (please specify)

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* 26. Please leave your details if you have indicated you would like to be contacted about any of the above. Please note for the purpose of verification of survey results company name and postcode are required. You will not be contacted unless indicated you have indicated above.

Name

Company *

Address

Address 2

City/Town

State/Territory

ZIP/Postal Code

Email Address

Phone Number

NT Chamber of Commerce Business Confidence Survey 2023

Business Confidence Survey

Question Title

* 1. Section One: About your business: In what state/territory is your head office located

Question Title

* 2. What NT regions do you do business in?

Question Title

* 3. What primary industry does your business operate in?

Question Title

* 4. What was the average number of FTE employees in your business during 2022?

Question Title

* 5. Are you an Indigenous-owned business? As defined by the NT Government Aboriginal Procurement Policy, the business must be registered with a certifying authority (such as NTIBN).

Question Title

* 6. Section Two: Business Confidence How confident are you about the outlook for your business in 2023?

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* 7. How confident are you about the overall economic outlook in the Territory for 2023?

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* 8. Top reasons for confidence (select as many as apply)

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* 9. Top reasons for worry? (select as many as apply)

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* 10. Section Three: Impact of recent developmentsThe Reserve Bank continues to lift interest rates to try to mitigate inflation. What impact are rising interest rates having on your business?

Question Title

* 11. The Australian Parliament recently passed major changes to industrial relations legislation. What impact do you expect these changes to have on your business?

Question Title

* 12. Section Four: The reality of workforce Are you experiencing workforce shortages

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* 13. In question four you indicated how many FTE staff you have at the moment - if you fill all positions tomorrow what number of FTE workers would you have?

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* 14. What does your current workforce look like? Please tick each statement that applies to your business

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* 15. If you are employing interstate, what are the main factors driving the decision? (select as many as apply)

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* 17. If you would be interested in learning more about Sustainable Business, at what level is your knowledge of sustainable business practices?

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* 18. Section Six: Doing business in remote and regional areas. Businesses in regional and remote NT face particular challenges in starting up and operating. Please identify the top three hurdles faced by regional and remote businesses:

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* 19. What are the top three ways in which businesses in regional and remote areas of the NT should be supported?

Question Title

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* 21. Are you involved in Australian Defence contracts?

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* 22. In the next year, are you planning to qualify to an industry standard for the business or for personnel (e.g. ISO, ASME, AS/ANZS, CC2/3 etc.) to maintain, or win, contracts?

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* 23. Section Eight: Business SupportAre you a Chamber member?

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* 24. How can the Chamber further support your business or economic activity in the NT?

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* 25. Would like to be contacted about any of the following:

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* 26. Please leave your details if you have indicated you would like to be contacted about any of the above. Please note for the purpose of verification of survey results company name and postcode are required. You will not be contacted unless indicated you have indicated above.

* 6. Section Two: Business Confidence
How confident are you about the outlook for your business in 2023?

* 10. Section Three: Impact of recent developments
The Reserve Bank continues to lift interest rates to try to mitigate inflation. What impact are rising interest rates having on your business?

* 12. Section Four: The reality of workforce
Are you experiencing workforce shortages

* 23. Section Eight: Business Support
Are you a Chamber member?