At last, Imminent Action at the Top End?
At long last a Federal Government has committed to developing “a clear, well-defined and timely policy platform”, with implementation plans specific to the next two, five, 10 and 20 years.
We understand development of a green paper is well advanced, and is expected to be released next month.
Peter Macks of our office was in Darwin recently when Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced his government would also co-ordinate what he called a “stocktake” of natural and strategic assets across the Top End in preparation for a northern Australia policy white paper due within 12 months.
The green paper focuses on development of Australia’s north by way of infrastructure investment, land-tenure reform, water management improvement in parallel with boosts to trade, innovation, research and education.
We’re informed the paper evolved from in-put of more than 40 meetings at which some 84 organisations across northern Australia were represented.
Now, as a means of capitalising on northern Australia’s strengths, the white paper will look for ways to enhance private investment while identifying critical economic and social infrastructure needed to support long-term growth.
Terms of reference
Mr Abbott in releasing terms of reference for the white paper said northern Australia had “so much potential”. He remarked on how the Ord River irrigation scheme had flourished, adding “and there is so much more that can be done.”
He’s proposed getting rid of red and green tape and said he’d consider tax concessions to aid development, “provided they could not be seen as unconstitutional”.
We understand, not surprisingly, the WA Premier Colin Barnett is keen to see expansion of the Ord River scheme as a priority, along with provision of a supply base for offshore oil and gas.
But NT Chief Minister Adam Giles, a believer in first things first, has said his priority would be to build more bridges and roads.
It would be good to see SA firms putting up their hands for slices of this action.
We’re informed that at this stage the Coalition’s northern Australia policy will be taken in hand by a task force within the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, to be supported by representatives of the WA, NT and Queensland governments.
Each of these governments will nominate indigenous, business and community leaders to an advisory council.
Our sources say the WA Government has nominated four people representing pastoralists, the Ord project and indigenous communities. Luke Bowen who heads the Cattlemen’s Association is tipped as one of the NT ‘s two nominees.
There no doubt that content of the white paper will be drawn substantially from the outcome of a federal parliamentary inquiry.
Unimpeded progress unlikely
The Wilderness Society is expected to resist strongly any moves to extend the Ord project, which its spokesman Gavin McFadzean has described as “a taxpayer-funded environmental disaster from its inception”.
The Australian Conservation Foundation’s northern Australia program manager Graham Tupper warns that a massive expansion of agricultural or extractive industries across the Top End could result in an “unsustainable population boom” that would damage the environment.
Then there are worrying reports of dissension in the Coalition’s ranks stemming from belief in some quarters that NT development was being politicised as Queensland and WA seek undue influence in directing it.
But unquestionably, what should or shouldn’t be done at the Top End is a debate that needs to be resolved forthwith in the National interest, for the times they are achangin’ and dictating a demand for action.
For more information, contact Macks Advisory on 08 8231 3323 or call into our office at Level 11, 99 Gawler Place, Adelaide SA 5000.
