MEDIA RELEASE

The Hon Gary Gray AO MP

Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development and Northern Australia

The Australian Coat of Arms

12 August 2008
GG010/2008

DARWIN AND KATHERINE CONSULTATIONS HELP SET PRIORITIES FOR OFFICE OF NORTHERN AUSTRALIA

Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development and Northern Australia, the Hon Gary Gray AO MP, is meeting with community and business leaders today and tomorrow on regional development priorities for the Northern Territory.

"The Rudd Government is serious about attracting and encouraging sustainable development opportunities for Australia's vast north, and this meeting with community and business leaders in Darwin and Katherine is an important part of the process," Mr Gray said.

"Gaining an understanding of local views and priorities is critical to northern Australia's ongoing development, and its economic, social and environmental prosperity."

The Rudd Government has established the new Office of Northern Australia to provide high level policy advice to the Government, and to improve coordination across the Government, and between governments, business and communities on issues affecting sustainable development in northern Australia.

"The Government is committed to working closely with northern jurisdictions, including local government, as well as business and communities to achieve the best possible outcomes for northern Australia," said Mr Gray.

Mr Gray's meetings today and tomorrow are part of a series of local conversations to help define how the Office of Northern Australia can best help communities across Australia's top-end prosper.

"Talking directly to people in the Northern Territory gives me a greater understanding of the critical issues and challenges they are currently facing," Mr Gray said.

"These meetings will help guide the Office of Northern Australia's future priorities, and inform future regional policy development."

Mr Gray is meeting with representatives of the Northern Territory Government, the Northern Land Council, Charles Darwin University, environmental groups, representatives of the pearling industry and local government about a range of issues, including:

  • skills shortages and housing affordability;
  • the future of agriculture and development in the Northern Territory;
  • transport infrastructure needs and routes to market;
  • water, land care and climate change risks and opportunities; and
  • developing sustainable indigenous business opportunities.

Consultations are also occurring in Mount Isa, Normanton, Cairns, Brisbane and Townsville. Mr Gray has already met with community leaders in Perth, Broome, Derby, Karratha, Roebourne and Kununurra. (Attachment on Office of Northern Australia follows).

Media Contacts

Barbara Wise ( Mr Gray's Office ) 0411 265 337

Background to the Office of Northern Australia

Prior to the election the Government committed to establishing a new Office of Northern Australia (ONA) as part of a plan to make sure the top end of Australia shares in national prosperity www.alp.org.au/media/1107/mslooNA030.php. The establishment of ONA was agreed by Government in March 2008 with funding provided over four years to commence from 1 July 2008, with offices in Canberra, Darwin and Townsville.

The role of ONA is to facilitate the provision of high level policy advice to the Government on sustainable development issues in, or affecting, northern Australia, including on:

  • priorities;
  • strategies that would promote sustainable development, and
  • barriers impeding the development of significant initiatives.

ONA will also improve coordination across the Government, and between governments, business and communities on issues affecting sustainable development in northern Australia.

Key outcomes anticipated from ONA include:

  • a better understanding of sustainable development issues and priorities
  • improved communication and engagement with stakeholders, communities and project proponents across northern Australia
  • improved coordination between governments, business and communities
  • improved cooperation and synergy across jurisdictions.

The Government has identified a range of challenges facing rural and regional Australia with the potential to impact on sustainable economic development. Priority issues include:

  • Skills shortages and shifting employment patterns
  • Housing affordability
  • Routes to market and transport infrastructure needs
  • Healthy communities and soft infrastructure needs
  • ICT infrastructure and broadband access
  • Climate change risks and opportunities
  • Environmental pressures and sustainability
  • Sustainable indigenous business opportunities
  • Biosecurity to protect Australia's primary industries.

ONA plans to establish strategic partnerships to address these issues, including with:

  • CSIRO and Universities in the three northern jurisdictions
  • State and Territory counterparts
  • the Major Projects Facilitation Unit (project facilitation expertise)
  • BITRE (transport and regional economics expertise)
  • Geoscience Australia and ABS (northern Australian mapping and statistics).

In April 2008 the Hon Gary Gray AO MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development and Northern Australia announced the decision to transfer the Northern Australia Land and Water Taskforce from the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts to the newly created Office of Northern Australia and to broaden its terms of reference (http://www.minister.infrastructure.gov.au/gg/releases/2008/April/GG001_2008.htm).

The purpose of the Taskforce is to better understand the opportunities for new sustainable development in the north and how to progress these in a way that avoids repeating the mistakes made in the south. The Taskforce, previously chaired by Senator the Hon Bill Heffernan, was established in 2007 as part of the previous Governments National Plan for Water Security www.environment.gov.au/water/publications/action/npws-plan.html.

Prior to the election, the Government committed to expand the Terms of Reference of the Taskforce to include a broader range of economic development opportunities, in addition to agriculture, which was a primary focus of the previous Taskforce. In January the Government also committed to change the Taskforce membership to boost its independence and expertise (http://www.environment.gov.au/minister/wong/2008/pubs/mr20080125.pdf). New terms of reference and membership are currently being finalised.

 

URL: http://www.minister.infrastructure.gov.au/gg/releases/2008/August/GG010_2008.htm