Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Minister for Resources and Northern Australia) Share this | Hansard source

Last night I had the honour of giving the government's first update on its progress in implementing the northern Australian white paper. Progress is being made. We have made announcements of more than $500 million, more than half a billion dollars, into specific roads and specific water investments across our north. They are going to help grow our north and drive the economy of northern Australia for the benefit of all Australians. One thing that is important to note from what I did last night as well is that more than half of the economy of northern Australia comes from the resources sector. Northern Australia represents more than half of our exports from Australia. A lot of those are, of course, resource exports. So northern Australia does need a strong resources sector to grow. We need a strong resources sector to grow northern Australia. Northern Australia needs a strong resources sector to grow itself. So this recent good news for the resources sector is good news for our northern Australia development plan as well, which remains on track and which is delivering results for all Australians.