Top End theatrics as leaders go head-to-head in debate

Ms Lawler took a swing at what she said was the opposition leader's lack of experience, saying she had been a minister for only six days, while Ms Finocchiaro described her Labor opponents as "political hacks".

Chief Minister Eva Lawler took part in a leader's debate a month out from the NT elections. ((A)manda Parkinson/AAP PHOTOS)

The two leaders go to the polls on August 24.

During the debate they spoke about the need to tackle youth crime - a major problem across the NT - with each using different names for what seemed to be similar ideas.

Labor plans to build more "youth residential hubs with skill and training" while the Country Liberal Party committed to "work camps".

Ms Lawler highlighted the wins she said her government had been a part of such as federal Labor and the territory Labor's billion-dollar investments in a ship lift, Middle Arm sustainability hub and plans for onshore and offshore gas.

Those projects were pivotal for employment in the NT, she said.

"I have said that we need to get all Territorians working," she said.

"We cannot have another generation of young people, particularly in our remote communities, that are not on a pathway to employment."

Ms Finochiaro echoed Labor's support for offshore oil and gas but said "the reality is every single one of those projects (under Labor) has been marred by delay".

"We have not seen a single major project delivered on that list," she said.

If elected, Ms Finochiaro promised her government would deliver payroll tax reform, improve the Territory's population retention and ensure people stayed in the NT by incentivising home-ownership.

Labor doubled down on its commitment to "fully fund" all public schools in the Territory which was announced this year as part of the federal budget's national partnership on education and to pursue mining of gas and critical minerals.

The next debate is scheduled for July 31.