The chief minister for the Northern Territories in Australia has told premier Kevin Rudd that East Timorese workers need to be provided with more training and development opportunities to serve the energy sector.

Paul Henderson spoke with the prime minister as he visited schools and community events in Darwin and Palmerston, according to ABC News.

During a meeting, he told Rudd that a new governmental framework is needed to ensure that East Timorese and other overseas workers can gain oil and gas training qualifications to serve Australian Industry.

Henderson also reportedly used his time with Rudd to discuss developments at the Inpex gas project in Darwin.

The Japanese company chose Darwin as the site for the project in September.

As part of the AU$23 billion ($15.14 billion) investment, Inpex will develop a plant in Darwin to receive gas piped from facilities 800km off the coast of Western Australia.

According to the Australian, federal resources and energy minister Martin Ferguson commented: This is a great day for the Northern Territory, it's a great day for Australia. We hope [this development] is soon to be the first of many."

Oil and Gas Directory: Training and Development