Federal Opposition pledges to make $7bn fund ‘securing northern Australia’s future’ permanent

The Federal Opposition leader has made a fly-in stop to Cairns to announce their plans to make a $7bn fund for northern Australia permanent and reveal a shadow cabinet reshuffle.

LNP candidate for Leichhardt Jeremy Neal, Queensland senator Susan McDonald and federal opposition leader Peter Dutton have announced the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility will become permanent under a coalition government. Picture: Brendan Radke

The Federal Opposition leader has made a fly-in stop to Cairns to announce their plans to make a $7bn fund for northern Australia permanent and reveal a shadow cabinet reshuffle.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton along with Senator Susan McDonald, and Jeremy Neal, the LNP candidate for Leichhardt, confirmed that the northern Australia Infrastructure Facility, would become permanent under an elected Dutton Coalition Government.

The $7 billion fund has underpinned around 20,000 jobs, yet currently has a sunset clause of 30 June 2026.

NAIF is providing North Queensland Airports with a loan of up to $155 million to upgrade Cairns and Mackay Airports and also funds the Cairns Seniors community Housing Project which will provide 490 social, affordable and specialist disability dwellings in Woree.

Construction on the Cairns Airport's eastern aviation precinct has begun, with initial earthmoving work underway at the site of the old runway, south of the domestic terminal. A conceptual render of the 10,000 square metre common use maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) hangar, a key piece of the eastern aviation precinct.

At Cairns Airport, the first major project involves refurbishing the International Terminal, with the Eastern Aviation Precinct another major upgrade for future of the airport.

“Northern Australia is front and centre of the Coalition’s plans to get Australia back on track. This commitment demonstrates the Coalition’s ongoing investment in northern Australia to ensure economic success and more jobs for the region,” Mr Dutton said.

Construction on the Cairns Airport's eastern aviation precinct has begun, with initial earthmoving work underway at the site of the old runway, south of the domestic terminal. HEH Civil director Luke Bird, North Queensland Airports chief executive Richard Barker and general manager of infrastructure and property Alan Dugan inspect the site of the new precinct, which will house purpose-built infrastructure and facilities, and expand the airport's general aviation footprint. Picture: Brendan Radke

“The Coalition wants to deliver job security and investment security for northern Australia, and even more economic investment, in particular here in Cairns.”

Neither Labor’s 2024/25 budget, nor their recent Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook, gave any commitment to future funding of the NAIF.

“The Coalition established the NAIF, we funded the NAIF, and we legislated the NAIF. And now the Coalition under my leadership will ensure the NAIF is a permanent fixture in government, “ Mr Dutton said.

“We want to power-up northern Australia’s economy and jobs market. Making the NAIF permanent will give private enterprises the long-term certainty they need to invest in the North.”

Renders for 490-home mega social and affordable housing project in Woree, Cairns.

Senator McDonald said since its creation in 2016, the NAIF had supported 33 projects underpinned by $4.4 billion in commitments from the loan facility fund.

“The NAIF has proved its success,” she said.

That’s why the Coalition put another $2 billion into the Facility ahead of the last election and successfully pressured Labor into keeping it there.

“It has driven investment in northern manufacturing, airport upgrades, community housing, beef processing and steelmaking. And that has meant more jobs, better jobs, and higher paying jobs in the north.”

The LNP candidate for Leichhardt, Jeremy Neal, welcomed the announcement.

“This is a great announcement for Cairns and for northern Australia,” he said.

“We want to ensure northern Australia is the economic powerhouse that we know it can be, and today’s announcement is an important part of achieving this.

“Ensuring the NAIF has a permanent home here in Cairns means more jobs and investment for Leichhardt,’ Mr Neal said.

During the visit Mr Dutton also took the moment to announce a long-awaited shake-up to his frontbench

With notable moves including David Coleman into the shadow foreign affairs portfolio with Simon Birmingham’s retirement and the Musk-esque appointment of Jacinta Nampijinpa Price as shadow minister for government efficiency.

Originally published as Federal Opposition pledges to make $7bn fund ‘securing northern Australia’s future’ permanent