Calls to reinstate Northern Agenda committee after federal government gave it the chop

Members of the Coalition have called on the federal government to immediately reinstate a committee designed to steer the government’s Northern Australia agenda after it was axed Tuesday.

A committee designed to steer the government’s Northern Australia agenda has been axed, with concerns a dedicated entity will also be shuttered.

The Coalition’s northern contingent — which includes Opposition Northern Australia spokeswoman Susan McDonald — has described the federal government’s decision as a sign it had “abandoned the North”.

Northern Australia is home to 1.3m people including the major regional centres of Townsville, Cairns, and Darwin and the economic heartland for industries including mining, defence, tourism, horticulture, agriculture, export and renewable energy including hydrogen.

The federal government, on Tuesday, formalised a swathe of parliamentary committees, designed to scrutinise issues, legislation, and recommend improvements on particular areas.

Committees were established for issues of human rights, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), law enforcement and migration among others.

Senator Susan McDonald said the decision to axe the Northern Australia committee was a “grave” one. Picture: Emily Barker

Senator McDonald said the decision to axe the Northern Australia committee was “grave” and called on the government to immediately reinstate it.

“Because without it, we can’t have the cross departmental genuine infrastructure and investment in the half of Australia that is going to drive the prosperity of this country going forward,” she said.

The Northern Australia committee, in the last parliament, investigated the destruction at Juukan Gorge, in the Hamersley Range in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, and looked into the opportunities and challenges facing traditional owners in the North.

Between 2014 and 2016 the committee looked into laws that would ultimately set up the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility, and also undertook a major inquiry into developing the region.

Queensland LNP Senator Matt Canavan said he feared abolishing the committee and the Office of Northern Australia would eventually lead to “funding for Northern Australia” being axed. Picture: Duncan Evans

Leader of Government Business Tony Burke, defending the decision in parliament on Tuesday, said “regional Australian issues are still able to be dealt with through the appropriate committee” and that a committee would be set up for First Nations issues.

Senator Matt Canavan, a former Northern Australia minister, said he feared abolishing the committee would eventually lead to “funding for Northern Australia” being axed.

He suggested the Office of Northern Australia would also be shuttered but Minister Madeleine King’s office confirmed this was untrue and unfounded.

A spokesman for Ms King said the work of the former committee would be conducted by two other committees on industry, science and resources and on regional development, infrastructure and transport.

“The Albanese Government is committed to leading a new Australian Government agenda for development in the north, focused on social infrastructure and community-led development, while still supporting industry to expand and create regional jobs,” he said.

Dawson MP Andrew Willcox said it was an “absolute slap in the face” and the government was now on notice.

“If they think Northern Australia is going to miss out, if they think my electorate of Dawson is going to miss out, well, they’ll want to buckle in and hang on to the rope, because this old bull, he’s about to buck,” he said.

Federal Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch said he was “absolutely gobsmacked” the government had abandoned the group and the Office of Northern Australia. Picture: Supplied

Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch, the former head of the committee, said he was “absolutely gobsmacked” the government had abandoned the group and the Office of Northern Australia — which employs about 25 people.

“I think it’s profoundly disappointing that they feel that 1.3 million people, large portion of which of course, are Indigenous Australians, were not important enough,” he said.

Flynn MP Colin Boyce said the decision was “appalling” and it was not possible to cut half of Australia out of the federal government, especially considering the region held the industrial precincts of Gladstone, the northwest gas shelf and the nation’s food bowl further north.

Senator McDonald said she would be bringing up the issue when she speaks with Ms King next week.