Under a Community Museums Plan, a Country Liberal Government will also employ two new regional museum officers and streamline the Regional Museums Grant Support Program.

"Our community and regional museums showcase the Territory's rich and diverse heritage, culture, history, flora and fauna," Opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro said.

"The CLP's $4 million commitment will allow the Katherine Museum to provide upgraded facilities and additional galleries, including support to acquire and display an ex-Tindal F/A 18 Classic Hornet, which is very exciting.

"In addition to boosting the Museum as a tourism drawcard, the upgrades will also provide substantial community benefits as a function venue and supporting the collection of material important to the Katherine region's history."

The announcement comes after the Katherine Town Council and NT Government stepped in last year with $100,000 to "save" the Katherine Museum.

Almost 5000 people signed a petition and a gallery of several hundred people crammed into the Civic Centre last year to lend local support to the museum.

The museum and council had been working over the past year to find alternative sources of funding both for operational needs and necessary upgrades.

The Country Liberal Government's Community Museums Plan will also include:

Employing two new Regional Museum Officers, one based in the Top-End and another in Central Australia to advise on curation of museum exhibits, improving visitor experience and helping museums to enhance and showcase Aboriginal culture and language.

Katherine residents piled into the Civic Centre last September to support the Katherine Museum.

Streamlining the Regional Museums Grant Support Program, making it more user friendly allowing museums to submit approved invoices for reimbursement, instead of having to submit grant applications in advance, and allowing the program to cover more activities like water, rubbish and building repairs.

The maximum amount for any quarter will be $7500, up to $30,000 per year, per museum.

In addition to the $4 million over three years for the Katherine Museum upgrade, an additional $1 million will be allocated to employ the two regional museum officers and for the regional museums' funding.

"Museums showcase what the Territory is about and it's important they're well-resourced and well run to offer maximum visitor experience and community benefit.

"Now more than ever we need to invest in our tourism offerings and enhance visitor experience so that domestic travellers come to, and stay longer in our regions," Mrs Finocchiaro said.

Jo Hersey, CLP candidate for Katherine Jo Hersey said: "The museum hasn't received the funding it deserves.

"I have been lobbying for this funding for a while and am excited to be a part of securing it to be an A class exhibition in Katherine for the community and also tourists who visit the area."

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