The federal government has agreed to back a motion moved by Senator Susan McDonald to reinstate a parliamentary body to oversee issues and development in Northern Australia.
Senator McDonald, the Shadow Minister for Northern Australia based in Townsville, went on the attack last week when she was informed the Labor federal government had scrapped the Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee for Northern Australia.
She drafted a motion to reinstate the committee and began canvassing independent Senators for their support in a vote.
"The response I received from the independents was fairly positive and then Labor approached me and agreed to negotiate forming a new committee," she said.
"The negotiations resulted in the establishment of a Joint Select Committee and ensures Northern Australia will continue to have a strong focus in Canberra.
"This motion was unanimously supported."
Senator McDonald said Labor had made a mistake in reducing Northern Australia's parliamentary presence.
"Northern Australia is of national significance. People in Melbourne and Sydney rely on minerals from this part of the country, much of the food they eat was likely grown in the North and mining royalties and taxes paid in the North fund roads and healthcare Australia-wide," she said.
"There was no way people in the north would accept less of a voice in Canberra and I congratulate Labor for recognising their short-sighted error and rectifying it as quickly as possible."
Senator McDonald said she had received scores of complaints from Northern Australia community leaders concerned that Labor's move would result in less funding for infrastructure and could even herald an intention to scrap the federal Northern Australia agenda altogether.
The new committee's membership is yet to be determined but will contain members from both sides of politics.
