OFFICE OF NORTHERN AUSTRALIA A FARCE

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The Rudd government disinterest in Northern and Remote Australia is clearly shown by answers in Senate Estimates today according to Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern and Remote Australia, Senator Ian Macdonald.

The only work being undertaken by the Office of Northern Australia is:

• Administrating the Northern Australia Land and Water Taskforce (which has now been disbanded by the Government)
• Supporting a draft “Cairns Plan” being prepared by the Queensland Government and Cairns Regional council, and
• Overseeing the East Kimberly Development Package with a total staff of one part time officer.

Since the release of a widely criticised report by the now disbanded Northern Australia Land and Water Taskforce the Government has clearly ignored the North.

“The Rudd Government has failed the test of leadership in the sustainable development of Northern Australia,” Senator Macdonald said.

“Northern Australia provides many opportunities for food production in a mosaic of good soils with plentiful water available but the neither the Office of Northern Australia nor indeed the Rudd Government is doing anything to turn the opportunities into reality.

“No one in the Office of Northern Australia has any responsibility for anything relating to food.

“Thankfully the Barnett Liberal Government in Western Australia is proceeding with Stage 2 of the Ord River Irrigation Scheme which will multiply food production in the area.

“But this work by the West Australian Government is not being replicated by either the Northern Territory or Queensland Governments.

“The Rudd Governments disinterest in Northern Australia is demonstrated by the fact that six and a half full time Government are allocated in the North to help an area which produces almost 40% of our export earnings.

“The whole approach of the Rudd Government to Northern Australia is patently farcical as today’s Estimates Hearing shows.

“It is clear that the only Government showing any real interest in Northern Australia is the Western Australian Government, and the Federal Government continues to bask in the reflected glory of the hard work of that State Government,” Senator Macdonald said.

END

27 May 2010

Media contact Gordon Terry      (02) 6277 3722   or   0427 960 255                                           

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