Martin swept to power four years ago in a surprise win after the complacent conservative government was jettisoned by voters after decades of incumbency.

The government will point to the (successful) Darwin to Adelaide train line and its part in trying to (unsuccessfully) develop the Sunrise gas reserves, (successfully) develop Woodside's Blacktip gas project and any other potential sources of energy supply to onshore Northern Australia as examples of its drive to develop the Territory.

The conference is a joint initiative between the Institute for International Research (IIR) & the Northern Territory government.

SEAAOC 2005 promises to be one of the busiest ever. Conference director Kathryn Granheim urged interested people to email info@iir.com.au or go to www.seaaoc.com for further details. Telephone contact details are +612 9923 5090.

Once again, SEAAOC is supported by industry with 2005 sponsors being ConocoPhillips, Woodside, AlintaMultiplex, Bechtel and Eni Australia.