OUR NORTH | OUR FUTURE Developing Northern Australia 2017 Implementation Report northernaustralia.gov.au Working in partnership Key pillars of This report was produced in October 2017 by the Australian Government’s Office of the northern Northern Australia. Visit: northernaustralia.gov.au | 08 8923 4403 Australia agenda The office is working to deliver the Australian Government’s northern agenda in partnership The Our North, Our Future with agencies and organisations including: White Paper on Developing Northern • Attorney-General’s Department Australia sets out the priorities for • AusIndustry • Australian Trade and driving progress and growth in the north. Investment Commission • Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia The priorities are support for: • Department of Agriculture and Water Resources • Department of Defence • Department of Education and Training a northern trade • Department of Employment and investment gateway • Department of the Environment and Energy • Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade • Department of Immigration and Border Protection • Department of Industry, Innovation and Science a diversified • Department of Infrastructure economy and Regional Development • Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet • Government of Western Australia • Interdepartmental Committee Indigenous entrepreneurs on Northern Australia and businesses • Joint Standing Committee on Northern Australia • Major Projects Facilitation Agency • Ministerial Forum on Northern Development • Northern Australia Advisory Council world-class • Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility • Northern Australia Senior Officials infrastructure Networking Group • Northern Australia Strategic Partnership • National Health and Medical Research Council • Northern Territory Government investment in • Queensland Government water infrastructure • The Treasury Cover images: world-leading research Top, 2nd left: The Gray family, Ceres Farm, WA. and innovation 2nd row left: Woodside North Rankin Complex, WA. Photo © woodside.com.au. 2nd row centre: Margaret Apuatimi & Carmel Therese Kantilla, Bima Wear Wurrumiyanga, Bathurst Island, NT. 3rd row left: Charlie Tapim, Ironbark Aboriginal Corporation, Wadeye, NT. 3rd row second left: Andrew Bates catching Trevally, Arafura Sea. Bottom, 3rd left: HOT NORTH’s Steven Tong. Overview The Australian Government released Our Northern partnerships North, Our Future, the first ever White Paper Unlocking the north’s full potential is on Developing Northern Australia in June 2015. not without challenges. Much of the work The White Paper outlines a vision of a strong needed to make the vision of a stronger north north where northern Australia’s great potential is a reality involves long-term commitment and unlocked, with benefits flowing to all Australians. a united effort across governments, industry and the community. It is a 20-year implementation schedule that involves 51 measures, backed by government The structures to achieve this long-term, joint investment of over $6 billion. endeavour are now in place. The government’s Office of Northern Australia is actively leading Now, two years into the implementation plan, over the implementation of the northern agenda, in half of the White Paper’s 51 measures have been close collaboration with 27 partners. delivered and the remaining are well underway. Critical coordination and collaboration to make Northern priorities the north an easier and more productive place to live and do business is taking place at all levels. The government’s northern agenda has created an environment that encourages investment and This includes the Northern Australia Strategic diverse business growth, including for Indigenous Partnership, led by the Prime Minister, the businesses and communities. Ministerial Forum on Northern Development and the Northern Australia Advisory Council, Investment forums are an important element of which is drawn from the north’s local council, this work—they bring international and domestic industry, Indigenous, farming, education and investors to the north to meet business people scientific sectors. and community leaders and view investment opportunities. Strong working relationships have also been forged with key northern stakeholders including Through this agenda, improvements have been the Northern Regional Development Australia made to ensure northern businesses have access Alliance. to the skilled and unskilled labour needed to drive the region’s economy. Indigenous leadership and involvement is critical to the continued success of this agenda and the To underpin the growth of the north, the participation of senior Indigenous leaders from government has invested in improved across northern Australia at the 2017 Ministerial infrastructure across the region, with a focus Forum on Northern Development was an on roads, rail, aviation and water infrastructure. important step forward in achieving this. Smart Cities Plans are already making a difference Expert boards are now in place for the Northern in Townsville and are under development for Australia Infrastructure Facility and the new Darwin. They support vibrant and productive Cooperative Research Centre for Developing northern city centres and communities. Northern Australia, adding to the network of The government has also invested in world-class good governance and expertise that is serving industry-led innovation and research to grow the interests of the north. the role of the north as a centre of globally competitive businesses and excellence in tropical medicine. 1 Key northern Australia milestones 2015–17 Indigenous Ranger biosecurity activities Productivity Commission increased report into fisheries and aquaculture Northern Australia Strategic Partnership CRC for Developing meeting Northern Australia Northern Australia Infrastructure established Audit released First meeting of the Enhanced access to Northern Australia the Entrepreneurs’ Advisory Council Remote Jobs and Programme Pacific Microstates Communities northern worker Programme reformed pilot program Construction Remote Airstrip underway Upgrade program commenced on first tranche of Industry Skills Fund extended First meeting of northern road projects enhanced to the Ministerial support businesses Forum on Exclusive native title Second Annual Northern rights consultation Statement to Development Northern Australia Parliament Investment Forum in Darwin HQ established in Darwin 2015 2016 2017 Major Project Facilitation Agency Online guides to land tenure released Linking the north with ASEAN and APEC connectivity agendas Entrepreneurs’ Programme expanded to include tourism Defence presence in the north strengthened Northern Australia Insurance Premiums Taskforce reports Tropical medicine commercialisation NT Designated Area grants announced Migration Agreement signed Northern Australia Infrastructure Permanent Joint Standing Committee Facility established on Northern Australia created Annual Statement Research institutions to Parliament tender awarded Expansion of Seasonal Worker Programme Extension of Working Holiday Maker visas Tropical health research grants announced Townsville City Deal signed Our North, Our Future | 2017 Implementation Report A trade and investment gateway Northern Australia’s proximity to Asia and other Stronger connections have been forged with our regional international trading partners makes it a critical global neighbours and links between northern Australia and gateway for the nation. the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) The government’s northern Australia agenda has connectivity agendas have been strengthened. The White created an environment that encourages investment and Paper has provided $2.5 million in development assistance business in the north, including by building better physical to enhance business links between Australian businesses and institutional links across and into the region, so that and Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste, with Indonesia goods, services and people can move quickly and also to participate. efficiently across borders. The government has built on the success of its “single Investment and business point of entry” for major projects in northern Australia by establishing the Major Projects Facilitation Agency To increase investment in the north, the government Darwin office. The agency is assisting 19 projects across hosted the 2015 Northern Australia Investment northern Australia in industries like resources, energy Forum in Darwin, which bought together international and aquaculture that represent an estimated CAPEX and domestic investors and northern producers and value of approximately $120 billion. businesses. The forum was attended by more than 350 global investors from over 20 countries and the Australian Trade and Investment Commission continues Free Trade Agreements to monitor post-forum investment outcomes and ongoing Australia’s Free Trade Agreements with China, interest from international investors. Japan, Korea and ASEAN members, are providing new opportunities for northern Australian producers The Ministers for Resources and Northern Australia and businesses to scale-up and export—be it a West and Trade, Tourism and Investment will host the second Australian melon producer or a Queensland fashion Northern Australia Investment Forum in Cairns in designer. Opportunities to increase our exports from the November 2017. north are immense, from horticulture to higher education, The 2017 forum will