NT keen for infrastructure boost in budget

The Northern Territory will be on a keen lookout for any funding that will boost the development of northern Australia.

Treasurer David Tollner says northern Australia could be the engine of the national economy and doesn't want the federal government to lose momentum in funding the region.

"I'd like to see a relaxation in foreign investment rules in Northern Australia, a relaxation in some of the skilled migration requirements, particularly around the English-speaking test," he told AAP.

"Anything we can do that lets the NT population grow... that encourages investment in north Australia, puts a lot of focus on attracting private sector investment in north Australia, they're all the things we want to see retained by the Turnbull government."

Backpackers are the backbone of the NT's horticulture, tourism and hospitality industries, and the NT has been a vocal opponent of the federal government's proposed tax, currently under review, which seeks to take 32.5 per cent from the first dollar earned.

Mr Tollner said he didn't want to see any increase to taxation, despite the fact the NT will lose about $145 million next year from a decline in its share of GST receipts.

Instead the focus should be on helping it blossom independently.

"It's my strong view that north Australia really is the key to fixing or promoting the national economy," he said.

Infrastructure funding for roads and ports are essential to drive economic growth, which will in turn help the NT fund schools and hospitals, Mr Tollner said.

The north of the country contains enormous opportunity that should be harnessed, he said.

"At the moment it's supported by the rest of Australia; the fact is, it should be supporting the rest of Australia," he said.

"I often find it embarrassing that the NT, with everything we have, is propped up by the rust bucket states of NSW and Victoria; we should be the ones driving the national economy and providing relief to other Australians, rather than the other way around."