Newsletter 18
October 2020
Fifth Annual Statement to Parliament
I am pleased to advise that the fifth Annual Statement to Parliament on the Developing Northern Australia agenda was delivered by the Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia, the Hon Keith Pitt MP, on Wednesday 28 October 2020.
2020 has been a unique year for Australia, and for the north. Through the difficulties, northern Australians have united to respond to a changing world. As relief and recovery measures were rapidly rolled out, northern industries adjusted, businesses innovated and importantly, we worked to protect our most vulnerable communities.
The Our North, Our Future: White Paper on Developing Northern Australia established a 20-year vision for the sustainable economic development of the north, underpinned by evidence based policy and strategic investment.
The first five years of the White Paper has delivered the groundwork required for contemporary economic policy across the Australian and Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia governments. Our collaborative efforts are achieving meaningful, long-term benefits for the north.
As we move into the next phase of the Australian Government’s northern agenda, our focus remains on job creation to drive growth in traditional sectors – like food and agribusiness; resources; energy; and tourism. This will enable our expansion into new and emerging industries like manufacturing; renewables and value-added processing.
We couldn’t do this work without the support of many of you. In particular, the Advisory Group for Northern Australia, Indigenous Reference Group, Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility, Cooperative Research Centre for Northern Australia and the members of the Ministerial Forum on Northern Development. On behalf of the Office of Northern Australia, I thank you for your commitment to drive sustainable growth across northern Australia.
Linda Lee
General Manager, Office of Northern Australian
