Large number of white paper recommendations going ahead

THE Coalition Government is investing more than $6 billion to ensure Northern Australia grows as a trade gateway to the Asia Pacific, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Barnaby Joyce has said.

Addressing representatives of the Northern Australia Alliance at Parliament House, Mr Joyce said 31 of 51 measures recommended in its White Paper on Developing Northern Australia had been delivered and the remaining 20 were well under way.

“Northern Australia’s proximity to Asia and our other major trading partners makes it a critical global gateway,” Mr Joyce said.

“Close to 400 million people live within five hours flying time, our north offers immense export opportunities, and we are ensuring the north can capitalise on these opportunities to benefit the entire nation.”

Mr Joyce said Northern Australia would also see enormous defence-related investment in coming years, including military training infrastructure at Shoalwater Bay Training Area and Townsville Field Training Area in Queensland worth up to $2.25 billion, funded by Singapore, and spending earmarked by the Coalition Government of $20 billion in the Northern Territory and $930 million in Western Australia over 20 years and $8 billion in Queensland over 10 years.

“Building better infrastructure underpins this whole agenda to make living and doing business in the north easier and more productive,” Mr Joyce said.

“The north accounts for more than 54% of Australian exports and covers more than 52% of our land mass.”