Coalition Real Action Plan for Northern Australia

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The Coalition will take real action for Northern Australia by providing northerners with the chance to have direct input on policy issues affecting them.

Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern and Remote Australia Senator Ian Macdonald said in Cairns today that a Coalition Government will establish a Northern Australian Alliance to consult, lobby and advocate the interests of all Northern Australians and provide a real ‘voice’ into government.

"With only nine of Australia's 150 members of Parliament residing north of the Tropic of Capricorn, the voices of Northern Australians are not often heard in the Parliament of the land,” Senator Macdonald said.

“A Coalition Government will establish a Northern Australia Alliance to agree on priorities for the development of Northern Australia.

“The Alliance will be comprised of elected leaders from local government, regional development associations, indigenous land management and other groups, industry and tourism, and representatives of government agencies." 

“People residing in northern Australia will have a direct say in government decisions and will assist northern MP’s in the advocacy for the North.

“With a few remarkable exceptions, Northern Australia is currently represented entirely by Federal and State Labor members and these members have failed miserably to properly represent the North to State and Federal Labor governments,” Senator Macdonald said.

In releasing the Coalitions Real Action Plan for Northern Australia (the full policy can be by clicking here), Senator Macdonald promised the re-establishment of the Northern Australian Land and Water Taskforce.

"The Taskforce will be restored to the leadership role it played when it was first established by the previous Coalition, under the chairmanship of Senator Bill Heffernan.  The Taskforce at that time also comprised Warren Entsch and was an important part in drawing attention to the opportunities to secure Australia's food resources in Northern Australia," Senator Macdonald said.

“Unfortunately with the advent of the Labor government this taskforce was muted and has turned into yet another talkfest with lots of talk but no action.

“There are huge opportunities in Northern Australia, but it does need the proactive leadership of Northern Australians to ensure that the full potential of the North is realised and that the North’s contribution to the national economy is recogised.

The policy released today highlights and draws together some of the commitments to the North made by the Coalition during the campaign.

The full Northern Australia Policy is available here, other policies relevant to the North are available at www.liberal.org.au

END

18 August 2010

Media contact Gordon Terry      (07) 4771 3066   or   0427 960 255                                           

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