FAR NORTH NEEDS IMMEDIATE NAIF CERTAINTY

The Turnbull Government must urgently pass legislation for the $5 billion Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) through the Federal Parliament as soon as possible to give certainty to North Queenslanders before they go to an early election.    

In Cairns today, Treasurer Curtis Pitt and Minister Assisting the Premier on North Queensland Coralee O’Rourke called on the Federal Government to prioritise the important legislation.  

“After years of inaction under Prime Minister Tony Abbott we’re not prepared to wait until after the Federal election, North Queensland needs action now,” Mr Pitt said.

“Time is of the essence and we need the Federal Government to give a tangible commitments to building industry, supporting economic activity and creating new employment opportunities here in Queensland.

“We’ve had no word on NAIF, no word on the Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement contract for Cairns, no commitment for funding to start work on Townsville’s stadium and no investment ideas to assist Mackay and Rockhampton transition out of the resources boom.”

Minister O’Rourke said the NAIF would create significant economic opportunities for North Queensland and Northern Australia.

“But we need to start seeing the benefit of these opportunities immediately,” Mrs O’Rourke said.

“I raised these concerns with Northern Australia Minister Matt Canavan when I met with him last month and I hope he has listened.

“We also had concerns the Federal Government planned to base the NAIF in Sydney with the Export Finance and Insurance Corporation, and successfully argued that it should be in Queensland.

“We now know the NAIF will be in Cairns, but we need certainty around the legislation that will underpin the scheme, so financing for projects and business cases can be put forward for assessment.

“The Federal Government needs to do everything in their power to get the NAIF passed, so it can start operating from 1 July.”

Contact: Scott Forbes 0419945546