NORTHERN TERRITORY CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION INC . Advancing and protecting the interests of cattle producers in the Northern Territory M e m b e r - National Farmers’ Federation & Cattle Council of Australia Executive Summary The Covid-19 pandemic has created substantial economic hardship and opportunity for the Northern Territory. The pastoral sector has been largely insulated from the impacts of Covid-19 because of the way the industry is structured. It has, despite increasing regulatory and administrative costs, managed to keep its input costs to a minimum. Low input costs proved the foundation of the resilience which kept the 10,000 people directly and indirectly employed during what is the industry’s peak time. While there are many opportunities and requirements which can assist the Territory rebuild itself, this submission focuses on two immediate opportunities. We have included the NTCA’s overall election policy platform, which may seem outside this scope, but feed into broader debates around accelerated approvals and cumbersome regulation. We also attach some statistical data which reinforces the benefit of the Roads of Strategic Stimulus Importance we wish to see. The Roads of Strategic Stimulus Importance is not just for the benefit of the cattle industry but also the resources (mining and onshore gas) and the tourism sector. These are wealth generating infrastructure suggestions designed to ensure that the productivity of the Territory economy can be dramatically improved. We are seeking a $535 million injection of funds into key roads over a five-year period. This will create 3,000 jobs and unlock the true productivity potential of regional and remote Northern Territory. We are asking for $5 million of those funds to be for a Design and Planning Fund. This is fundamental to ensuring there are “shovel-ready road projects”. The cattle industry in the Northern Territory was responsible for much of the early development, especially as it related to roads. We need to return to that level of basic principle so that other industries can benefit as well. The other major suggestion is a “job creating joint industry/government Weed Eradication Program” using paid volunteers. We believe this could, over a five-year period, generate nearly 500 jobs and attack the more than 40 weed species which affect the economic productivity of the Territory. This costing is based off the pastoral estate alone but could be replicated on Aboriginal Land Trust Land. Such a program creates both short term and long-term benefits from quick job creation to improved environmental land management to opportunities for greater agricultural productivity. In any event both these programs need to be adopted and championed as a priority if the Territory is to start the climb back to a positive economic position. Suite 9, 1st Floor, Raffles Plaza,1 Buffalo Court, Darwin NT 0800 | GPO Box 4845, Darwin NT 0801 T: (08) 8981 5976 | F: (08) 8981 9527 | E: [email protected] | W: www.ntca.org.au 1 NORTHERN TERRITORY CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION INC . Advancing and protecting the interests of cattle producers in the Northern Territory Overview The Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association (NTCA) is the peak body for the NT cattle industry, providing leadership at the Territory, national and international level on industry, trade, resource management, and economic and social policy. Representing over 90 per cent of the Territory industry, the NTCA maintains a unique position as Australia’s most representative producer body and single conduit for engagement. The NTCA has been a leader in driving positive change while also defending the position and integrity of the cattle sector, its producers and connected supply chains operating into domes-tic and international markets. As the predominant primary industry sector, the cattle industry underpins the economic, social and environmental foundations of the NT and Northern Australia. The NTCA has taken a pro-active approach on environmental policy around renewable energy, sustainable development and social responsibility connected to the reengagement of Indigenous land and people in the modern beef industry. The NTCA provides policy leadership across the primary industry sector including pastoral land conservation, market development and trade, regional development, Indigenous employment and international engagement. In representing the interests of members, the NTCA is critically interested in the policy position of the government, opposition, and independents on a range of important issues. NTCA’s membership ranges from small family and indigenous operations, to large corporate organisations. The NTCA exists to advance and protect the interests of Northern Territory cattle producers. Our Northern Territory members are environ-mental stewards responsible for a landmass more than 700,000 square kilometres (49% of the NT landmass), producing 600,000 high quality cattle per year. The pastoral industry is the Northern Territory’s third largest GDP earner, equating to more than 80% of primary production in the NT. We are responsible for 40 per cent of Australia’s live export. With an investment of $4.5 billion in the NT, our industry generates over $750 million (ABARES) directly and more than $1.2 billion indirectly into the Northern Territory’s economy. The industry directly and indirectly provides 10,000 jobs and has contributed to the growth of the Territory for over 150 years. It continues to increase in size, productivity, and efficiency. NT producers supply cattle to all mainland states and produce quality animals suited for the live export trade to South East Asia, including, on average up to 400,000 head exported to Indonesia and Vietnam annually. More than 26 million Indonesians consume Northern Territory beef on an annual basis. The future of the Northern Territory, Northern Australia and indeed Australia, is interwoven with the success and future viability of the Northern beef cattle industry. Long-term development of Northern Australia is reliant on investment across areas such as infrastructure, health, education, telecommunications, research, and development. While Northern Australia holds great potential, ultimately there is a need for greater coordination of government policy in areas of social policy, environment, animal welfare, production, infrastructure and regional development in Suite 9, 1st Floor, Raffles Plaza,1 Buffalo Court, Darwin NT 0800 | GPO Box 4845, Darwin NT 0801 T: (08) 8981 5976 | F: (08) 8981 9527 | E: [email protected] | W: www.ntca.org.au 2 NORTHERN TERRITORY CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION INC . Advancing and protecting the interests of cattle producers in the Northern Territory order to provide the foundation for the overall advancement, economic growth and prosperity of the land and people of the North. There is an increasing global demand for food and a rapid increase in demand for protein and high value food products from countries in our immediate region, including China, Indonesia, and Vietnam. The increasing demand is placing pressure on domestic availability and prices for beef and specialty food products while also creating unprecedented demand by foreign and local investors in food production and related supply chains. While the levels of investment into Northern Australia and the NT for quality farming and production assets will continue to increase, we are also working in an increasingly complex and competitive environment. This requires good government and industry policy and the adoption of leading technology, innovation, and efficiency to grow our competitive advantage on a sustainable social, environmental and economic base. Suite 9, 1st Floor, Raffles Plaza,1 Buffalo Court, Darwin NT 0800 | GPO Box 4845, Darwin NT 0801 T: (08) 8981 5976 | F: (08) 8981 9527 | E: [email protected] | W: www.ntca.org.au 3 NORTHERN TERRITORY CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION INC . Advancing and protecting the interests of cattle producers in the Northern Territory Roads of Strategic Stimulus Importance The beef industry is a key pillar of the economy of northern Australia and underpins the economies of almost every regional community in the Northern Territory, contributing close to $500M1 directly to the economy. Vast cattle stations in the Northern Territory use six-deck road trains to transport stock to all parts of Australia for domestic or export market, spanning journey distances of thousands of kilometres. Road and transport infrastructure is critical to not only the present viability of the pastoral industry, but is a major factor in the nation’s ability to maximise industry potential identified in the NT and spoken about in discussions about the “Development of Northern Australia”. Historically it has been the pastoral sector which has driven development in the Territory and for other industries including the resources and tourism sectors. It is these industries which again benefit from any concerted push to target roads of strategic stimulus importance. The Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association (NTCA) is committed to assisting the Federal Australian Government in unlocking the potential of Northern Australia through strategic, nation-building investment in critical road infrastructure through Northern Australia. We believe a $535 million accelerated roads package delivered over a five-year program and which incorporates a $5 million Planning and Design Fund will unlock large amounts of industry and drive productivity and trade for decades. This is in addition to roads