PRICES, INCOME AND EXPENDITURE

A standardised basket of groceries cost on average $186.38 in Darwin, compared to $184.80 in Katherine, $179.67 in Alice Springs and $221.97 in Nhulunbuy. For all stores large increases in price were observed between 2005 and 2006, and the cost of an average basket of goods increased more than in any other year over the 2001-06 period.

Data from the 2006 Census of Population and Housing showed that the median personal income in the Northern Territory ($549) was higher than the Australian median ($466). Compared to Australia the Northern Territory has a larger proportion of persons earning an income in the range of $600-$1599 and a lower proportion earning $0-$149.

There were 77 532 taxable individuals in the NT during the 2003-04 financial year with an average taxable income of $46 081 and paying an average of $10 854 in tax. This is an increase from the 2002-03 figures of 73 277 taxable individuals, with an average taxable income of $40 894 and paying an average of $9374 in tax.

In the Northern Territory on 30 June 2006 there were a total of 1452 Department of Veterans' Affairs pensioners. Of these 62% were disability pensioners, 25.5% veteran service pensioners, 16.3% partner service pensioners and 11.7% war widowers (note that persons may receive multiple pensions).

Since 2001 housing prices as well as rental prices have increased sharply. This is evidenced by increases in weekly rental and housing loan repayments between the 2001 and 2006 Censuses of Population and Housing. Weekly rental payments are generally higher in the Northern Territory than that for Australia as a whole. Whilst income is higher in the Darwin area than regional areas, median weekly rental payments and housing loan repayments are also higher.

Further information on income and prices in the Northern Territory can be obtained from the following sources:

NT Treasury Grocery Price Survey

Census Tables (cat. no. 2068.0)

Consumer Price Index, Australia (cat. no. 6401.0 )

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey, Northern Territory, 2002 (cat. no. 4714.7.55.001)

Retail Trade, Australia (cat. no. 8501.0)

Household Expenditure Survey, Australia: Summary of Results, 2003-04 (cat. no. 6530.0)