Labor leader Bill Shorten would not commit to bailing out the cash-strapped Northern Territory Government during election campaigning in Darwin.
The Gunner Territory Labor Government unveiled its budget repair plan by John Langoulant earlier this week, which included more than 70 recommendations to save more than $13 billion.
But a surplus is still nine years away and net debt will still peak at $8.8 billion.
The federal Labor MP for the Darwin seat of Solomon, Luke Gosling, last week foreshadowed a "package of support" that some interpreted as a bail-out.
However Mr Shorten would not commit to a bail-out, but said there were concerns about making sure the NT got its fair share of investment and GST revenue - which the Gunner government blames for its fiscal issues.
He said Michael Gunner was doing "such a good job" as chief minister and that the previous Adam Giles-led Country Liberal government had run up the massive debt and deficit while selling off public assets such as insurer TIO and Darwin port.
"We will be announcing more details about further support for the Northern Territory," he said in Darwin on Thursday.
"But if you want to talk about the Northern Territory package, Labor has already begun to outline our meaningful support in tourism, this roads, in health and education." "What we'll do in our way is put more investment in the territory." Labor has pledged a $92 million health package for the NT, including:
A second Careflight helicopter and $15 million to increase the number of mental health inpatient beds.
It has also announced a $115.1 million indigenous health package.
The NT's two seats of Solomon and Lingiari are both held by Labor but regarded as winnable by the CLP, whose candidates are Kathy Ganley and Jacinta Price.
