Federal plan lays out vision for the North

The controversial Middle Arm project is essential for job creation and Northern Australia’s development, according to a government report calling for a ‘new way forward’.

A government report says there is the need for a ‘new way forward’ from a 2015 Northern Australia white paper that largely focused on fostering private investment in the region. Picture: iStock

The controversial Middle Arm project is essential for job creation and the development of Northern Australia, according to a government report that says there is the need for a “new way forward” from a 2015 Northern Australia white paper that largely focused on fostering private investment in the region.

Despite the Greens threatening to derail Labor’s Future Made in Australia package unless the Commonwealth withdraws its $1.5bn in support for Darwin’s industrial precinct and gas exporting hub, known as Middle Arm, the Northern Australia Action Plan singles out the project as essential to the Northern Territory’s economic sustainability and the pathway to a decarbonised economy.

“The new precinct will unlock market opportunities in the emerging industries of renewable energies,” the report, which lays out a plan for the region over the next five years, states.

“It will open new export opportunities in northern Australia for commodities such as green hydrogen and critical minerals, with associated downstream opportunities for onshore processing and low-emission manufacturing.”

On top of Middle Arm, Labor is pinning its credentials for region around the Future Made in Australia plan, green hydrogen, critical minerals, defence and working with Indigenous communities to help them achieve economic self determination.

“The opportunity for the north is immense, as it is home to the minerals and sources of energy the nation needs to build a Future Made in Australia and support the global transition to net zero,” the report states.

“The Australian government will... support northern Australia to capitalise on opportunities presented under the Future Made in Australia agenda and other major government investment opportunities.”

It comes after the disastrous NT election result on the weekend, which will leave the territory’s Labor party with just four or five seats.

Following extensive surveys carried out from September 2023 to February 2024, housing availability and better engagement with First Nations communities were ranked as the top two priorities for constituents in the Northern Australia plan.

As the federal government continues to struggle with outlining next steps after the failed Indigenous voice to parliament, the Northern Australia plan outlined the need to enhance Indigenous Australians’ economic self determination and to provide more opportunities for First Nations people and businesses.

This included initiatives like the First Nations Renewable Hydrogen Engagement Fund, which helps Indigenous communities engage with hydrogen project developers in the hope it will provide them with future economic opportunities.

Other priorities identified for people living in the region included workforce skills and training development, justice reinvestment, diversification that responds to climate change and transformational and complex projects.

The report followed Labor on Monday announcing a $150m loan to a Northern Australia gold project, that would help create more than 1700 jobs across its construction and operation.

The Northern Australia action plan identifies a higher cost of living as one of the key challenges for the region and said that investigating ways to address the “high cost of doing business in the north” would be a continued area of focus.