The Central Land Council has slammed what it calls the Northern Territory government's decision to "backflip" on a $12 million Aboriginal Ranger Grants election promise in this week's budget.

Land Council chair Warren Williams said the Country Liberal government "has betrayed our trust and puts jobs, cultural knowledge and land management at risk".

The Council said on Thursday prior to the 2024 election, the Country Liberal Party promised to deliver $3 million annually over four years to support Aboriginal ranger groups with critical training, equipment and infrastructure – "a commitment it has now scrapped".

"This is a slap in the face to the rangers who are out there managing country on the smell of an oily rag, protecting sacred sites and fighting fires in some of the most remote areas of the Territory," Mr Williams said.

"Aboriginal ranger programs benefit all Territorians – from tackling feral pests to reducing carbon emissions – and the government's broken promise puts this work and these jobs in jeopardy."

The Central Land Council supports 15 ranger groups across Central Australia, employing more than 90 Aboriginal rangers.

The Council said the promised funding would have supported critical training, equipment upgrades and job security.

"This broken promise hits especially hard in communities where ranger jobs are among the few opportunities for meaningful, culturally appropriate work," Mr Williams said.

"It undermines decades of investment in local efforts to look after country."

The CLC chair called on the government to honour its promise and reinstate the grants in full.

"Your fine words before the election about supporting the bush ring hollow when you turn your backs on one of the proven success stories in remote community development as soon as the election is over," Mr Williams said.

"Our rangers and the country they care for, deserve better. They will remember your backflip, as will voters."

NT Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment, Joshua Burgoyne, told National Indigenous Times Aboriginal ranger groups are funded through "a mix" of Territory and Commonwealth grants, philanthropic support, fee-for-service work, and revenue from carbon abatement projects.

"The former Labor government's time-limited funding ended without one extra dollar in the budget for continuation of this grant funding," he said.

"The former Labor government left the Territory with over $11 billion in debt and a broken budget.

"As a result, the CLP Government is looking at how it can best support ranger groups into the future. Our government's number one priority is law and order, including spending on frontline priorities such as Police, courts, and corrections, and is working to rebuild the economy.

"The Commonwealth remains the primary funder of Aboriginal ranger programs."