The heat continues on the Country Liberal Party government after its decision to scrap the Northern Territory's $12 million Aboriginal ranger program promised during its election campaign.

The Northern Land Council on Friday joined the chorus of disappointment in the wake of this week's Budget, which let down the Territory's frontline Aboriginal rangers by scrapping four years of crucial funding to support land and sea management across the NT.

In August 2024 now Treasurer Bill Yan, who at the time was Opposition spokesperson for Parks and Rangers, stated "if elected [the CLP] will fully fund the program, with $12 million over four years".

But the bipartisan election commitment to the Aboriginal Ranger Grants – that keep the Territory's land and sea country healthy and protected – is now seemingly broken.

NT Lands, Planning and Environment minister Joshua Burgoyne said funding had been exhausted and that the CLP would "continue to work with Aboriginal ranger groups across the Territory to ensure we can support them in their important work moving forward".

The NLC has requested further details on what level of support that would entail, now the $12m funding was unavailable for the extensive service.

NLC chair Matthew Ryan said the many Indigenous ranger groups were already significantly under-resourced to properly manage land and sea Country.

"After eight years of a program that has contributed to successful land and sea management, this government has revealed its plans to leave Aboriginal rangers behind," he said on Friday.

"Our rangers are outraged at this broken promise, which puts both jobs and our ability to manage Country at risk … I call on [the CLP] to honour their election promise."

Mr Ryan said the decision jeopardised the work of all those who rely on our lands and seas, including local Territorians and visitors and tourists who come to enjoy the NT lifestyle.

Since launching in 2017, the NT Aboriginal Ranger Grants has contributed to land and sea management across the Territory, with a focus on practical outcomes, supporting rangers with essential equipment, facilities and skills to undertake critical jobs on Country.

The NT's Indigenous ranger program had delivered long-term environmental, economic and social development benefits, and its model was continually recognised internationally as best-practice in natural and cultural resource management .

Border protection, biosecurity surveillance, weed and feral control, and actively managing threats of fire in remote areas were just some of the roles rangers delivered thanks to the government program.

"The NTG Aboriginal Ranger Grants plays a significant part in ensuring our land and sea remains healthy, to be enjoyed by generations to come," the NLC said.

The condemnation followed similar sentiment from the Central Land Council, which slammed the government's "backflip" on Thursday.

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

"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 CLC, which supports 15 ranger groups across Central Australia and employs more than 90 Aboriginal rangers, said the promised funding would have enabled 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."

The CLP's silence on Aboriginal ranger funding comes as other states including the re-elected 2025 WA government boosted Aboriginal ranger grants to $20m, and a $24m increase from the QLD government.

Minister 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."