Northern Australia committee reinstated after axing by federal government following uproar

A committee designed to steer the Northern Australia agenda has been reinstated a week after it was axed by the Federal government thanks to a contingent of Coalition politicians kicking up a stink.

A committee designed to steer the government’s Northern Australia agenda has been reinstated a week after its axing by the federal government following an uproar.

A contingent of Coalition politicians, led by Opposition Northern Australia spokeswoman Susan McDonald, last week kicked up a stink after the new federal government chose not to establish the committee saying it indicated an abandonment of 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.

Northern Australia is home to 1.3m people, including the major regional centre of Townsville. Picture: Evan Morgan

Committees were established for issues of human rights, the NDIS, law enforcement and migration among others.

Senator McDonald, on Wednesday night, was able to secure majority support in the upper house for the committee to be reinstated.

On Thursday afternoon the lower house agreed to reinstate the committee.

Senator McDonald she had canvassed independent Senators for their support in a vote.

“The response I received from the independents was fairly positive and then Labor approached me and agreed to negotiate forming a new committee,” she said.

“The negotiations resulted in the establishment of a Joint Select Committee and ensures Northern Australia will continue to have a strong focus in Canberra.”

A spokesman for Resources and Northern Australia Minister Madeleine King said the government was “commited to development in the North”.

“When in Government, the Coalition treated the Joint Standing Committee on Northern Australia with contempt and failed to provide responses to the two reports it produced during the last Parliament,” he said.

A committee designed to steer the government’s Northern Australia agenda has been reinstated a week after its axing by the federal government following an uproar by some politicians, including Opposition Northern Australia spokeswoman Susan McDonald. Picture: Ashley Pillhofer

The Northern Australia committee, in the last parliament, investigated the destruction at Juukan Gorge 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.