The Northern Territory's highly paid politicians and public sector executives have been targeted with a three-year pay freeze, as part of a suite of austerity measures designed to tackle the Territory's financial crisis.

Key points: MLA and executive wages will be subject to a three-year freeze in an effort to reduce government spending

MLA and executive wages will be subject to a three-year freeze in an effort to reduce government spending The full plan to address the NT's $3 billion net debt is expected to be announced on Tuesday

The full plan to address the NT's $3 billion net debt is expected to be announced on Tuesday The Opposition said the Labor Government has had three years to act and should look for more cuts

The measure, announced today by Chief Minister Michael Gunner, is expected to affect 643 executives and 25 politicians, saving $25 million over the time period.

"It's only fair that heavy lifting is also done by freezing politicians' and executive pay for three years," Mr Gunner said in a statement.

The Government's solution to the spiralling debt, which is forecast to rise tenfold to $35.7 billion by 2029-30, is the appointment of Western Australia's former under-treasurer John Langoulant, who has developed a list of recommendations for the NT Government to implement.

A wider plan to address the Territory's budget woes is expected to be announced on Tuesday.

NT Labor has said the budget problems stem from two things: the inheritance of an $876 million deficit from the former Country Liberal government and a $500 million per year reduction in GST revenue compared to what was expected prior to the NT election in 2016.

The Government says it has ensured that its wider budget plan will protect frontline workers such as teachers, nurses and police.

"We will not be taking the CLP approach of slashing and burning the public service, sacking teachers and massive increases in power prices," Mr Gunner said.

NT Opposition Leader Gary Higgins told ABC Radio Darwin he would like to see the austerity measures go further.

"I would have looked at the wages of assistant ministers and travel spends," he said.

"I would like to see [the NT Government] look harder at their cost-cutting and the projects that they're spending money [on] and actually incentivise the private sector to contribute to the economy."

Mr Higgins also detailed that entire salary packages, which can include housing and ministerial cars for staff, are between $200,000 and $450,000 per year.

He added that the Government has taken too long to develop a plan for the NT economy.

"The position they're currently in was outlined in the last CLP budget and it took them three years to address it," Mr Higgins said.

Executive positions

Mr Gunner maintained that his Government fulfilled its pre-election promise to cut 26 executive-level positions.

But State of the Service Reports show there are currently only five fewer executive positions than in June 2016, two months before Labor was elected.

"We did that as part of the machinery of government changes when we first came in, as part of our election costings … which was reported in the first budget," he said.

Mr Gunner said he had written to the Remuneration Tribunal to advise it of the pay freeze for executives and politicians.

"The pay that we're on now, is the pay we are going to be on," he said.

Over the previous two budgets, the NT Government has reduced its wages policy from 3 per cent to 2 per cent for future enterprise bargaining agreements in the public service.

The Chief Minister would not yet disclose whether another reduction in future wages growth for public servants would be introduced in this year's budget.

"You will see all the recommendations of the John Langoulant report tomorrow," Mr Gunner said.

"The majority of public servants have gone through their EBA phases, the next round of negotiations are more for about 2021 now, so that's about three years away.

"Between now and then we will have a new wages policy."

