Marion Scrymgour (Lingiari, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I want to thank Minister Madeleine King for introducing this legislation and for her work advocating for northern Australia. Northern Australia is a vibrant region full of potential. It is also in my unbiased opinion one of the most beautiful places in the country. With stunning landscapes, it is a special part of the world. North Australia is my home. I was born there, it is where my family live and it is the region I have the honour of representing in this parliament as not only the member for Lingiari but also the Chair of the Joint Select Committee on Northern Australia.

It is in both of these capacities that I speak in full support of these amendments—amendments which will enhance economic growth right across northern Australia and, importantly, the Christmas and Cocos (Keeling) islands. In the past, northern Australia has not had the focus and attention it deserves. For a region brimming with culture, hardworking people and a rich environment, we have not seen the levels of development in the north that we deserve. The north, as we all know, is a major gateway to the Indo-Pacific. It is critical to Australia's national security and strategic outlook but also our partnership with the region. The flow of people and goods through our north is vital to our national economy, which is why the Albanese Labor government has northern Australia right at the heart of its agenda. The Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility to date has invested over $4 billion into northern Australia. It has spurred $29.6 billion in economic benefit, and a forecasted 15,160 jobs will be created through its operation.

Turning now to my electorate of Lingiari, the NAIF has been critical to the expansion of the Humpty Doo barramundi farm, with stage 1 seeing the NAIF invest $7.2 million for ponds and nurseries in what I can attest is a fantastic barramundi farm. Stage 2 will see a further expansion of the Humpty Doo farm. This means more jobs for our region. It means a good business gets to grow even more. Another great set of projects supported by the NAIF are the developments of the Darwin, Alice Springs and Tennant Creek airports. With a $150 million loan, the Alice Springs runway will be resurfaced and a new runway light installed, with better storage at Darwin International Airport and solar arrays for Tennant Creek, Darwin and Alice Springs. This project is huge for the Territory, increasing accessibility for our domestic and international visitors, enhancing our trade capacity and boosting our tourism industry.

Another critical project is the Hudson Creek Power Station and Batchelor Solar Farm. This $74 million project will reduce the reliance on expensive gas and diesel generators and make an important contribution to enhancing the Northern Territory's renewable energy capacity. For our Indigenous tourism sector, we've seen a mammoth investment of $27.5 million into Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia. This investment is set to unlock over $370 million in public benefit and greatly enhance our Indigenous tourism sector in the Territory. All of these projects contribute to the economic and social development of the Territory and would not have been possible without the NAIF.

But the NAIF is not resting on its laurels, and this government is working to make the NAIF even better. The proposed amendments will increase the NAIF appropriation by a huge $2 billion, from $5 billion to $7 billion. Something for which I applaud the minister and which I am very supportive of is adding Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands to the definition of northern Australia and clarifying that the NAIF may provide financial assistance for the development of northern Australian economic infrastructure for the benefit of Indigenous persons and that that is an additional objective of the act. I cannot tell you what the impact of these changes will be for northern Australia. Firstly, with more funding, we can help more businesses, who in turn employ more workers, feed more families and keep our economy going. We're expanding the NAIF to include more of our most in-need northern Australians.

The Christmas and Cocos (Keeling) Islands are an important part of my electorate. I had the privilege of visiting the Indian Ocean Territories, and it was a fantastic visit. The sense of community and connection on the island is evident. People look out for one another but, more than that, people are always looking for new ways to better their island home. What I heard loud and clear was that Christmas Islanders felt overlooked by the previous coalition government. Well, the Albanese Labor government will not make that mistake. I was certainly happy that, when I visited the Indian Ocean Territories, we had the public infrastructure that the Public Works Committee have visited. The communities were absolutely rapt that we had the minister for territories, Kristy McBain, visit the island and meet with a number of stakeholders. I want to thank Minister McBain for her visit and for her commitment to the islands. Minister McBain gets the challenges facing the territories and, indeed, so does the Minister for Northern Australia. It's been fantastic to see that commitment from both of those ministers as they look at some of those challenges and how our government can work towards overcoming them.

We know that Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands face economic development challenges. Much of this is due to economies of scale, as well as the sheer logistical efforts in reaching the islands. Freight issues, I heard loud and clear from islanders, are particularly challenging for people on the islands, as is communication. So I'm looking forward to working with them on both the freight and the communication issues. Despite this, the island territories are both devoting considerable resources to reshaping and further developing their economies. The inclusion of the Indian Ocean Territories under the NAIF will greatly assist in this.

The inclusion of economic infrastructure that benefits Indigenous Australians as an additional objective of the act is also an important development. We know that the best way to build intergenerational and community owned wealth is through Aboriginal owned enterprise. I was very proud to attend the Northern Territory Aboriginal Investment Corporation launch in Darwin and speak to the work that needs to be done to build Aboriginal businesses and expand the work of those that already exist. The changes to the NAIF Act are an important additional step which the Northern Territory Aboriginal Investment Corporation needs to take up with the NAIF, and they will be of great benefit to all Indigenous people who live in northern Australia. When we lift up our most disadvantaged communities, we all get lifted up.

I conclude by saying to all those in northern Australia: the Albanese Labor government is hearing you. We are working hard to make sure that we maximise the potential of the region, particularly by further supporting our businesses and enterprises that support so many Territorians. You have a strong Labor team. Luke Gosling, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy and I are all Territorians through and through. We will always stand up and advocate for the people of the Territory and make sure we get the attention that the Northern Territory deserves through all of the changes that have been made to the NAIF. I commend the bill.

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