A Northern Territory Opposition member says some businesses are having to fly workers in and out of Darwin because the cost of living is too high there.
Sanderson Member Peter Styles told parliament the slow release of land for housing and high rents have made Darwin unaffordable for people in service industries.
The ABC reports he said Darwin could become more dependent on fly-in, fly-out workers for basic services.
But Essential Services Minister Rob Knight said high costs are part of an economic boom.
"Go to Cairns,'' he said. "Oh, it's cheap housing there, absolutely, but there are no jobs.''
