Earlier this month the historic Darwin launch of Mrs Gina Rinehart’s visionary book Northern Australia and then some took place at a booked out event. This hugely significant book outlines the vast potential of Northern Australia and identifies the many incredible opportunities that exist. Both Mrs Rinehart and the then Chief Minister Terry Mills spoke of their passion and vision for the future of North Australia in front of over 200 people. The event was also attended by newly appointed Chief Minister Adam Giles and Deputy Chief Minister David Tollner. Important news coverage of the event by ABC Darwin can be foundhere.
To purchase your copy of Northern Australia and then some please contact Rachel Leigh on 03 9600 4744 or at rleigh@ipa.org.au.
The Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association has sent a seven-member delegation to Canberra to lobby both sides of federal politics for a greater understanding of the needs of northern farmers. The delegation is hoping for support with northern infrastructure development, including an upgrade of Darwin Port and other key transport routes.
Many northern pastoralists have struggled to recover from 2011’s live export ban, around 20 NT cattle stations are said to be on the market. A strong start to the wet season has also caused some pastoralists difficulties in keeping their cattle’s weight at the required level for export. Meanwhile, hopes the industry may soon recover have been dealt another blow, as the Indonesian government considers a plan that would see it running its own cattle farming operations in Australia’s North.
A report by the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association, released yesterday, says ‘green tape’ is “choking” gas export projects. The report highlights the cost many gas projects face due to overlapping state and federal regulations. (full report here).
The Newman government has taken a major step towards creating a northern food bowl by opening up Cape York to large-scale agriculture. Amendments to the Vegetation Management Act, introduced in the Queensland parliament last week, will relax land clearing laws and allow for the construction of dams. The move is part of a broader plan to encourage investment and development in the region.
Woodside Petroleum’s $40 billion Browse gas project remains under threat, despite the re-election of Colin Barnett, a major supporter of the project. Some analysts have claimed the Kimberley project is not viable due to high costs and labour shortages. The Australian LNG market may soon face another challenge as its biggest customer, Japan, has become the first country to successfully extract gas from methane hydrate deposits buried beneath the sea. Japan currently buys 70 per cent of Australia’s LNG exports.