Senator the Hon Ian Macdonald
Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern and Remote Australia
Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for the Defence Force and Defence Support
Liberal – Queensland – LNP
July 23, 2013
The Future of Northern Australia
Tomorrow, July 24, interested parties from the Karratha region will have the chance to have their say on the Coalition’s 2030 Vision for the Development of Northern Australia.
Senator Ian Macdonald, Opposition Spokesman for Northern and Remote Australia, said the forum in Karratha was the seventh in a series of nine across Northern Australia.
“Three weeks ago Tony Abbott released a paper on where the Coalition wants to see Northern Australia in 2030 and how we plan to get there so that we can ensure that Northern Australia finally gets the chance to develop to its full potential for the benefit of all Australians,” Senator Macdonald said.
“Our commitment is to consult with stakeholders across Northern Australia, to explain our vision and invite their input, and within 12 months of being elected, should we win the election, to produce a fully costed White Paper on exactly how we will achieve our vision by 2030.”
The Coalition’s Vision Paper addresses the enormous opportunities and challenges for Northern Australia in the years ahead, and outlines a range of possible initiatives to take advantageof the opportunities and meet the challenges.
WA Senator Alan Eggleston will co-host the Karratha Forum and said he was excited to be part of this Vision for Northern Australia and was determined to see Western Australia involved.
“We believe that by 2030 Northern Australia could drive growth by: developing as a food bowl which could help to double Australia’s food output; increasing the number of international tourists to two million; building an energy export industry and encouragingadvanced manufacturing and downstream processing; establishing medical centres of excellence; creating hubs for vocational and higher education campuses; growing Australia’s exports of technical skills in resources and agriculture,” Senator Eggleston said
“We understand that money will be very tight, but we believe that government leadership, encouragement and stability will promote private sector investment.
“The job for a Coalition government will be to create the right climate and environment to encourage the establishment of viable enterprises and new activities.”
The Karratha forum will be held at the Karratha Leisureplex, opposite Broadhurst Road on the Dampier Highway from 8.30-10.30 am on Wednesday July 24.