THE Territory’s Federal Member for Solomon and former soldier Luke Gosling doesn’t mind admitting the past three years representing the Territory in the federal parliament have been a bit of a reconnaissance mission.
Treading the minefield of being a rookie federal politician in Opposition with little firepower to make meaningful change on behalf of Territorians can be a frustrating grind.
He’s been doing his time, surveying the lay of the land and quietly earning his stripes as a loyal foot soldier. His victory on the political battlefield at the last federal election has come with a promotion.
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He will head Labor Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese’s Regional Taskforce for Northern Australia.
This is a role he has craved.
Not because it is a cushy gig that gives him a chance to rack up countless frequent flyer points. Far from it.
Life in federal Opposition means the vast majority of his work in the region will have to be self funded.
That’s right, pay his own way. But as our he explains it, he has been working in the region for decades and this is his passion.
Luke Gosling is a true believer in the north and the need for its development.
“There has been far too much rhetoric about the great potential of the region for North Australia and in particular Darwin … I want to turn that potential into concrete outcomes, whether they be policy out comes that we will take to the next Federal election or more importantly real outcomes in the now space,” he says.
“I particularly want to get outcomes for Territory businesses. They deserve it and need it.
“I will be travelling into the region and I’ll be conducting consultations with the public, businesses, peak bodies, trade policy experts.
“As I go I will be working with my colleagues in the Taskforce, Madeline King the federal Shadow Minister for Trade from WA and Senator Murray Watt, the Shadow Minister for Northern Australia from Queensland.
“Together we all have strong links across Northern Australia.”
But the Territory’s federal member says he will unashamedly be focusing on the benefits for the Northern Territory.
“I want to change the notion among our neighbours like Indonesia that it easier for their businesses to do business with their trading partners to their north such as China, Japan, Korea and others, despite their close proximity to Northern Australia,” Mr Gosling said.
“I am keen to see that turn around. It is important that our near neighbours see just how serious we are about Asian engagement.
“I think in the same way federal Labor leader Anthony Albanese has given me leadership of this new task force, I think here in the Northern Territory we could do something similar.
“It would send a powerful message to the region that we see these massive markets being vital to the future of the Northern Territory and Northern Australia more broadly.
“We should be the Asian gateway to the Australia market.
“Yes, I may be in Opposition, but being based in Darwin means I can be a very loud voice for the Northern Territory and the North.
“The focus of this task force and the focus of future initiatives of the Northern Territory Government will serve to send a strong message to the region.
“Darwin in particular is an incredibly important strategic location to our region.
“We are the northern most port in Australia and that has been identified by our allies.
“What we need to do is have the Federal Government also acknowledge the importance of Darwin, both from a trade and military sense.”
Mr Gosling points out he is keen to work closely with the Scott Morrison Government if it means real outcomes for the north and not just lip service.
“It would be shameful if Territorians are punished for the way they voted at the last federal election,” he said. “Territorians live in some of the remotest parts of Australia and they are doing their bit for this nation.
“I am disappointed that it (the Government) hasn’t strongly backed Darwin as the location for a shiplift facility that will really be a game change for our region. It concerns me that the federal Minister for Northern Australia is giving Cairns’ shiplift so much attention.
“The Federal Government says the business case has to stack up. We are the home of patrol boat base, a marine supply base, we have a fleet of boats in our harbour that could use a shiplift facility. Without the shiplift the business will not come, it will end up in Cairns.”
The Member for Solomon’s experience in the region tells him that being a genuine partner in the region is not just all about trade.
“One of the things that I will be working on is the great untapped benefit of getting our sporting and cultural participants into the region to act as strong facilitators of deeper bonds with our neighbours to the north,” he said.
“‘Look north, don’t always look south’ is my message. Schools like Essington have pioneered this and earned great respect in the region.
“We need to build on those educational links that have been pioneered by schools like Essington and Darwin High. What they do in sport and student exchanges and arts engagement in the region has set them apart.
“This takes vision and badges them in the regions they engage with. I am keen to talk to them and look at their models of engagement as something for us to build on and broaden out.
“Whatever they have been doing definitely seems to be working judging by the high recognition overseas.
“They have led the way. They could get some more support from government because they service a model that we can use and leverage to get more done in terms of business and trading in our region.
“The hand of friendship can go a long way in opening doors that enhance trade links.
“I know from my own experience in the region that sporting and cultural interest is welcomed and appreciated by our overseas trade partners. These engagements can be used to leverage stronger links with governments and business.
“The Territory stands to benefit a great deal by deepening sport, cultural, business and investment links with Indonesia in particular.
“It was a talking point recently with visiting overseas delegates attending the recent Chambers of Commerce forum during the Arafura Games in Darwin.
“The region wants to engage at all levels. They want to see more of us. They want more NT organisations, sport, cultural, students and others visiting and engaging.
“I can play a role in working with organisations to help foster these links and their level of involvement.
“The more Territorians that head overseas to engage with the region the better. There is a lot of focus on sending our people south.
“I would urge organisations to look north and I would urge governments to support them.
“It will certainly be one of the policies I will be bringing forward. We need more financial support to encourage groups to go forth and engage in the region.
“Every sports team and cultural group is an ambassador for the Northern Territory and helps to put us in front of our Asian neighbours.
“I want to see us doing more in the area of sport with Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, China, Timor Leste, Vietnam, Thailand and so on.
“I will also be working with organisations like the Darwin Festival, the Northern Centre for Contemporary Art, tourism bodies and other cultural organisations in general so that we can increase cultural exchanges with our near neighbours.
“For example with the Bali Artists camp with Indonesia … this is a magnificent cultural exchange program that involves Indonesian artists working alongside Northern Territory indigenous artists.
“I will be looking to do more with Timor Leste because I think they are incredibly powerful initiatives to share our cultures.
“These should be embedded as part of federal and government programs.
“With education I think we need to be doing a lot more with educational institutions close to Asia.
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“I know Charles Darwin University is doing some work in this area, but I think we can deepen our co-operation in the region and turn those educational and research linkages that link that through to commercialisation.
“The Territory stands to benefit a great deal by deepening sport, cultural, business and investment links with Indonesia in particular.
“I have met with the Territory’s Indonesian and Timor Leste consuls and I am looking forward to building a real future for Territory business and Territorians in general through this role.”
With big plans ahead of him, the Territory will have to wait to see whether Luke Gosling can achieve the lofty goals he’s set.
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