Premier welcomes new NT partner in Northern Australia progress

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has congratulated Northern Territory Chief Minister-elect Michael Gunner on his election victory and committed to partner with him on the development of Northern Australia.

“I have congratulated Michael on his victory yesterday. We will work together to reinvigorate the Northern Australia agenda,” the Premier said.

“The prolonged Federal Government election campaign, delays in the establishment of the Northern Australian Infrastructure Facility and sporadic announcements about Federal road and water infrastructure funding have slowed the Northern Australia agenda.”

“I believe the new Gunner Labor Government in the Northern Territory will be a good partner for my Government and our own ambitions to develop north Queensland.”

“My Government has already focussed heavily on the north, with more than $2.4 billion in infrastructure improvements for the region in the 2016-17 State Budget, estimated to support up to 7500 jobs.”

Ms Palaszczuk, who travelled to Cairns for international tourism industry talks late last week, said her Government was committed to North Queensland and had prioritised efforts through its Advancing North Queensland plan released in June.

Minister Assisting the Premier on North Queensland Coralee O’Rourke led the development of the Plan, by hosting six roundtables with more than 130 local business leaders across the state, a forum with 40 Mayors in Townsville, the Northern Queensland Economic Summit with more than 250 domestic and international investors, as well as leading a delegation of North Queensland mayors to Canberra to leverage funding from the White Paper on Developing Northern Australia.

The Palaszczuk Government’s five priority areas for North Queensland are:

• Roads infrastructure:RContinuing strong state government investment in roads infrastructure for North Queensland through key projects in the $3.9 billion Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program, and making sure Queensland gets a fair share of funding under the Developing Northern Australia White Paper’s $600 million Northern Australia Roads Program and the $100 million Beef Roads Program.

• Water security: Securing Queensland’s fair share of funding and working to deliver funded projects under the National Water Infrastructure Development Fund. Also, continuing to undertake Regional Water Supply Security Assessments, and working with councils at risk of running out of water due to drought.

• Research and innovation: Engaging with stakeholders to create ongoing opportunities and influence to ensure a strong CRC that maximises industry involvement.

• Tourism, trade and investment: Ensuring a dedicated focus on North Queensland in the upcoming Queensland Trade and Investment Strategy and the proposed Advancing Queensland Tourism Strategy to bolster the tourism sector, and increase global exposure and access to Asian markets.

• North Queensland Stadium: secured $100 million in federal funding to complement the Queensland Government’s $140 million commitment to build a world-class stadium, a vital catalyst for the development of an exciting entertainment, retail and residential precinct adjacent to the Townsville central business district.

Media contact: Kirby Anderson 0417 263 791