On Friday, the Minister for Agribusiness Nicole Manison announced the simplified process will be reduced from six months to six weeks, which she said will make regulatory approval more efficient and support investment.

"We are cutting red tape because we want the Territory to be the easiest place to do business," she said.

"This new simplified pastoral land clearing process will make approvals more efficient and streamlined, making sure works are done quicker with more local job opportunities.

"With an area of approximately 596,542 square kilometres, the NT pastoral estate comprises 45 per cent of the NT's land mass held under 224 pastoral leases."

Under the new process, lessees can now apply to clear up to 1000ha of native vegetation per application for non-irrigated purposes.

The new process is in response to the Territory Economic Reconstruction Commission's final report, which recommended regulatory and administrative reform.

The commission was established by the NT Government in 2020, to guide the Territory's economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ms Manison said decision-making will be proportionate to risk, and applications must meet environmental criteria outlined in the Pastoral Land Clearing Guidelines.

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