Premier wants northern Australian development agenda revived

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk wants to revive the development of northern Australia, flagging under Turnbull Government, by working closely with the Northern Territory Chief Minister and the new Premier of Western Australia.

“The agenda for northern Australia needs to be about delivering jobs and infrastructure. Unfortunately, the Turnbull Government is not driving the northern Australia agenda,” she said.

The Premier said she wanted to convene a meeting with Premier of Western Australia Mark McGowan and Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner to coincide with the next Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting.

“The northern Australia agenda needs leadership. It has been flagging under the Turnbull Government with signature Federal Government initiatives like the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) not lending any funding since it was first announced almost two years ago,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

Ms Palaszczuk said regional Queensland was benefiting from a suite of dedicated programs established by her Government and being delivered in partnership with local employers and local councils.

The $200 million Works for Queensland program was announced in December. Councils were asked for shovel-ready projects in January. They responded in the first week of February and 723 approved projects were announced this week. All projects are to be completed by November this year and are expected to support almost 6000 jobs.

Other regional programs being delivered by the Palaszczuk Government include:

• $375 million Building Our Regions is a targeted regional infrastructure program for local government projects, primarily for critical infrastructure in regional areas of the state;
• $180 million Significant Regional Infrastructure Projects Program, part of the State Infrastructure Fund, is fast-tracking key economic and social infrastructure projects in regional centres right across Queensland including transport, health and education infrastructure;
• $130 million Jobs and Regional Growth Fund. The Jobs and Regional Growth Fund is providing assistance for projects that require direct and immediate assistance to protect and create jobs;
• $100 million Back to Work program to $100 million Back to Work - Regional Employment Package provides support to businesses for up to 8000 job opportunities for regional jobseekers;
• $40 million Advance Queensland Industry Attraction Program to attract businesses to Queensland, either to relocate or establish new projects in the State; and
• $20 million Made in Queensland to providing support to Queensland’s manufacturing sector through grants supplementing industry contributions.

The Government has invested $4.9 billion through its capital works program across regional Queensland this financial year (2016-17).

Media contact: Kirby Anderson (Premier’s office) 0417 263 791