“The White Paper on Developing Northern Australia: Our North, Our Future will create the conditions for private investment to unlock potential growth in northern Australia,” BCA spokesman Scott Thompson said.

“The focus on facilitating more productive land use, reducing business regulation, increasing Indigenous employment opportunities, and funding much-needed transport and water infrastructure is the right approach to encourage businesses to invest in the region.

“The new funding for a Cooperative Research Centre will help promote agriculture and food sector innovation, an area where Australia can be globally competitive.

“If northern Australia is to grow beyond its current modest rate it will need a larger and more highly skilled workforce. The White Paper sensibly promotes local skills development as well as more flexible migration settings for temporary skilled migrants and seasonal workers.

“What will also be important is that these recommended policy settings for northern Australia work in tandem with the other major national reform processes such as tax reform, competition policy, industry policy, including the Industry Growth Centres Initiative, and federation reform,” Mr Thompson said. 

For further information contact:
Scott Thompson, Director, Media and Public Affairs
Business Council of Australia
Telephone (03) 8664 2664 • Mobile 0403 241 128