The Joint Select Committee on Northern Australia has commenced an inquiry into the development of Northern Australia. The Joint Select Committee on Northern Australia was appointed by a resolution of appointment passed by the House of Representatives on 21 November 2013 and the Senate on 4 December 2013.

The Committee invites interested persons and organisations to make submissions addressing the terms of reference by Monday, February 17 2014.

Inquiry into the Development of Northern Australia

Terms of reference

  • The Committee to consider policies for developing the parts of Australia which lie north of the Tropic of Capricorn, spanningWestern Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland, and in doing so:
  • examine the potential for developmentof the region's mineral, energy, agricultural,tourism, defence and other industries;
  • provide recommendations to:

enhance trade and other investment links with the Asia-Pacific;

establish a conduciveregulatory, taxation and economic environment;

address impediments to growth; and

set conditionsfor private investmentand innovation;

  • identify the critical economic and social infrastructure needed to supportthe long term growth of the region, and ways to support planning and investment in that infrastructure.

The Committee to also present to the Parliament its recommendation for a white paper which would detail government action needed to be taken to implement the committee's recommendations, setting out how the recommendations were to be implemented, by which government entity they were to be implemented, a timetable for implementation and how and when any government funding would be sourced. The Committee is due to present an interim report to Parliament on the activities of the Committee as soon as practicable after 30 May 2014, with particular reference to the outcomes of public hearings held across Northern Australia, and any specialist knowledge emanating from the public submissions process. The Committee is due to deliver its final report and recommendationsto the Parliamenton or before 6 July 2014.

For further information or advice on making a submission, please contact the committee secretariat on (02) 6277 4162, by email at jscna (Saph.gov.au or consult the committee's internet site »