Madeleine King (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Northern Australia) Share this | Hansard source

I'd like to start by thanking all members of this House for their contributions to this debate, and I acknowledge the support across the Chamber for the proposed changes to the Northern Australian Infrastructure Facility. I acknowledge the concerns that many members have raised. I also acknowledge the great support I've received today from the member for Riverina. He referred to the golden age of democracy when he was Deputy Prime Minister. I'm not sure if that's the case, but nonetheless I acknowledge his service in that role.

Before I go on to speak about the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2023 directly, I just want to clarify something the member for Riverina mentioned about being the resources minister for a Labor government. I would point out that obviously a lot of our Labor membership is made up of workers throughout that industry right across this country. Many tens of thousands of people work in the industry and support Labor and are members of the AWU, the ETU or the AMWU. They work very hard for their families and communities across the resources sector. Also, of course, members of the Labor caucus who have worked in the industry include the member for Swan, as a mining engineer. The member for Hasluck also worked for the resources industry, and of course the member for Hunter was an underground coalminer and the member for Paterson has very close associations with coalmining in Kurri Kurri and Paterson. Of course, the former member for Brand Mr Gary Gray AO, the current ambassador to Ireland, also worked in that industry and is also a former parliamentary secretary for northern Australia. So I wouldn't want the member for Riverina or his colleagues to be confused about the Labor Party's commitment to the resources sector and the support that I enjoy within the caucus for the work we are doing with the resources sector and, of course, also for northern Australia, which is the principal matter that we're speaking on today.

The Australian government is committed to driving economic development in northern Australia. The Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility amendment bill will amend the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility Act 2016 in order to extend the capability of the facility to provide financial assistance to the states and territories and other entities for the development of northern Australia's economic infrastructure. The amendments to the act will increase the facility's appropriation from $5 billion to $7 billion; add Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, collectively known as the Indian Ocean Territories, to the definition of northern Australia in the act; and clarify that the facility may provide financial assistance for the development of northern Australian economic infrastructure for the benefit of Indigenous persons and that this is an additional objective of the act.

By providing the facility with an additional $2 billion to provide financial assistance to businesses and communities in Australia's north, this government is demonstrating its commitment to developing the north. By extending the definition of northern Australia to the Indian Ocean Territories, this government is empowering the facility to provide financial assistance for the development of economic infrastructure that provides a basis for economic growth or stimulates population growth in the Indian Ocean territories. This government is fully committed to advancing Indigenous outcomes, and accordingly the bill clarifies this government's expectation that the facility is empowered to provide financial assistance to develop economic infrastructure for the benefit of First Nations Australians.

This government is also fully committed to transitioning Australia's energy sector to net zero by 2050 and to the reduction of Australia's emissions by 43 per cent by 2030. The facility has a key role in contributing to this objective. In December 2022, I provided the government's statement of expectations to the facility, which communicated the government's expectation that the facility would provide full support in ensuring that the goal of achieving net zero is prioritised in delivering financial assistance.

I thank all members for their contributions, and I commend the bill to the House.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Message from Governor-General recommending appropriation announced.

See this speech in context