Minister puts Queensland top of Northern Australia agenda

Government leaders from across Northern Australia will travel to Darwin today for the first Ministerial Forum on Northern Development, set to address significant economic projects and opportunities.

Minister Assisting the Premier on North Queensland Coralee O’Rourke said a key focus of the forum would be how North Queensland fits into the bigger picture of developing Northern Australia.

North Queensland accounts for around 75 per cent of the population of Northern Australia, so we have a very important part to play in growing our region,” Mrs O’Rourke said.

“The Ministerial Forum is our chance to identify opportunities to maximise regional growth and create new jobs through shared priorities, including transport infrastructure, agriculture, resources and gas, and Indigenous economic development.

“As Minister Assisting the Premier on North Queensland, I will be using this forum as a platform to drive our Advancing North Queensland priorities and to continue strategic discussion with the Federal Government around development.

“North Queensland has huge economic potential and we know that the best way to maximise these opportunities is by working together.”

Mrs O'Rourke said the Palaszczuk Government was committed to working with the Australian Government, industry and investors to identify new challenges and priorities in North Queensland.

“The release of the Northern Australia White Paper and the establishment of the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) and the Co-operative Research Centre (CRC) has presented us with a great opportunity to develop a shared understanding, at all levels of government, of the importance of this region to the economic future of Australia as a whole,” Mrs O’Rourke said.

“I’m incredibly proud to be a North Queenslander and to be part of a Government that understands the importance of our region to the rest of the state and northern Australia.”

The Forum will be made up of ministers with responsibility for northern development, including the Minister for Resources and Northern Australia (Chair); the Minister Assisting the Premier on North Queensland; the Minister for Regional Development, Western Australia; and the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory.

Media contact:          Carolyn Nicholas                 0416 532 373