New Australian Infrastructure Plan poised to make NT, Northern Australia into economic powerhouses

A new infrastructure plan has the NT and Northern Australia poised to be an economic powerhouse.

INFRASTRUCTURE Australia’s landmark 2021 Australian Infrastructure Plan has the Northern Territory and Northern Australia poised to be an economic powerhouse.

The plan, a reform road map, calls for a new wave of infrastructure reform to fully leverage the Australian government’s historic $110bn infrastructure spend and drive the national Covid-19 recovery.

Infrastructure Australia chief executive Romilly Madew said the 2021 Australian Infrastructure Plan was being delivered at a critical moment in the Territory’s and the nation’s history.

“The pandemic, bushfires, drought, floods and cyber attacks have tested our collective resilience during recent years, while the most recent outbreaks have devastated our CBDs and put us at risk of a recession,” Ms Madew said. “This document locks in recognising the great potential of Northern Australia and in particular the Northern Territory. There are great opportunities in the Northern Territory.

Romilly Madew. Picture: The Australian / Renee Nowytarger

“There are opportunities around renewable energy, minerals, agriculture, tourism, data centres and so on … these were all in the Territory Economic Reconstruction Commission report last year.

“However, this document also identifies the challenges we are all aware of and we are pointing that out around skilled workers, ensuring there is liveability and connectivity.

“There is a role to play from the federal government, along with the Northern Territory government, to unlock this potential.

“Northern Australia is critical to how we call out the opportunities for reform. It is also critical that we make First Nations people central to this economic development.”

Ms Madew said Territorians should be encouraged by the level of financial commitment already shown by the federal government towards economic growth and development in the Territory. “There is a number of good examples around the funding that has occurred. There has been North Australia Infrastructure Facility funding,” she said.

“Our focus is on making sure it is the right investment and it will unlock the potential. Opening up areas like the Beetaloo Basin is important.

“There has been a co-ordinated approach by a number of federal government departments and agencies.”