The coalition has committed $8.4 million to speed up fracking and develop onshore gas in the NT's Beetaloo Basin if it wins the federal election.
Developing the gas resource would help boost jobs and reduce domestic gas prices, Resources and Northern Australia Minister Matt Canavan said in Darwin on Wednesday.
The $8.4 million would be used for environmental baseline work, a feasibility study and an Aboriginal economic strategy to support Beetaloo Basin's development.
"This is a great resource here in the NT, one that can provide a huge boost to the Territory's economy and benefit east coast consumers as well," Mr Canavan said.
"We want to ensure guaranteed supply of competitively-priced gas for households and businesses, and one way to do that is accelerate production from the Beetaloo Basin."
Nationals Senator Canavan was campaigning with Country Liberal candidates, Solomon's Kathy Ganley and Lingiari hopeful Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, who are contesting Labor-held NT seats.
The NT Labor government lifted a moratorium on fracking last year after strict environmental conditions recommended by a scientific inquiry were accepted.
Ms Ganley said the inquiry found that developments in the Beetaloo could create more than 6500 full-time jobs.
A protest was outside the NT parliament this week to mark a year since the ban on fracking was lifted.
Elliott-region Indigenous Traditional Owner Raymond Dixon said "our people have not given proper consent to these activities, yet fracking companies are out on country now, land-clearing, taking water and preparing sites for fracking."
