The Palaszczuk Government has welcomed the Federal Government’s reported decision to establish the $5 billion Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) headquarters in Cairns.
In Rockhampton today for the NAIF Investment Roundtable, Minister Assisting the Premier on North Queensland Coralee O’Rourke said the State Government had been calling on Federal Minister for Northern Australia Matt Canavan to base the facility in North Queensland.
“We have been calling on the Federal Government to house the facility in North Queensland, and I am glad they have listened,” Mrs O’Rourke said.
“Considering the population of north Queensland represents around 70 per cent of northern Australia, it makes sense that the facility is based on our turf.
“We were concerned their plan was to base the NAIF in Sydney with the Export Finance and Insurance Corporation, and argued that it should be in Queensland.
“The NAIF will create significant economic infrastructure opportunities for Northern Australia, and this will best be done from a headquarters in North Queensland.
“North Queensland also has a dedicated Queensland Government office after the Palaszczuk Government re-opened the Office of North Queensland in Townsville after it was shut under the Newman Government.”
Mrs O’Rourke said now that a location had been decided, it was time for the Federal Government to assure northern Australia the scheme would be passed through Federal Parliament before the looming election.
“With the Federal election just around the corner, northern Australia deserves certainty around the legislation that will underpin the scheme, so financing for projects and business cases can be put forward to be assessed," she said.
“The Federal Government need to do everything in their power to get the NAIF passed, so it can start operating from 1 July.”
Mrs O’Rourke said she would also put the case forward to Minister Canavan for north Queensland to house the Co-operative Research Centre (CRC) for Developing Northern Australia.
“The Federal Government announced the establishment of the CRC in their White Paper on Developing Northern Australia to encourage businesses, governments and researchers to work together to identify opportunities for growth,” Mrs O’Rourke said
“The CRC will be industry-led, located in the north, with a focus on collaborative research to deliver commercial opportunities in areas such as agriculture, food and tropical health.
“There are also significant economic benefits, such as our strong academic sector, international connectivity, diverse economy and industry expertise.
“That’s the argument I took to the Federal Government in Canberra earlier this year, on a delegation of Mayors representing Councils from across north Queensland, and have again pushed for in today’s meeting with Minister Canavan.”
Mrs O’Rourke said she had been lobbying Canberra to back a number of significant economic projects and opportunities for North Queensland, such as the Townsville Stadium.
“We’ve made our commitment clear – the Palaszczuk Government has allocated $100 million towards the stadium in the state budget,” Mrs O’Rourke said.
“Now we need the Federal Government to come to the table.
“Mr Canavan needs to progress the Townsville Stadium business case as his top priority, to create much needed jobs and opportunities for growth in our region.”
