Originally Posted by 
JDNSW
				 
			The NT government thinks that this is necessary to get anyone to explore there. Not being up to date with the geology in the area, I can't really offer an opinion, although from what I know, I certainly would not spend any of my money exploring there. 
But the NT government is probably not looking at the probability of exploration success (although I have no doubt someone has shown them some very optimistic possibilities), but is really more interested in economic activity, treating it the same as a lot of the things they subsidise.
Of course, I would not even suggest that the idea came from some of their pushy mates.