24th Jun 2021, 12:37 PM – Senate Motions - Northern Australia - Liberal-National Coalition Government's Northern Australia Agenda

The majority voted in favour of a motion introduced by Tasmanian Senator Jonathon Duniam (Liberal), which means it passed. Motions like these don't make any legal changes on their own but can be politically influential because they represent the will of the Senate.

Motions

That the Senate recognises the effectiveness of the Liberal-National Coalition Government's Northern Australia Agenda in unlocking the north's vast potential and securing a strong and prosperous region through targeted economic and social development policy, specifically in relation to:

(a) reforming the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF), following the recent statutory review, to streamline approval processes and increase the NAIF's risk appetite, to drive the growth of local jobs and increase the opportunities in health, education, resources, energy and agriculture across Northern Australia;

(b) the $190 million 2021-22 budget measures to implement the Our north, our future: 2021-2026 - The next five year plan, which includes:

(i) $9.3 million for pilot geographic regions of growth,

(ii) $68.5 million for a dedicated round of Mobile Black Spot Program and Regional Connectivity Program to enable greater digital connectivity in northern Australia, and

(iii) $111.9 million for a Northern Australia Development Program to help business to scale-up and diversify operations; and

(c) the $10 billion Northern Australia Reinsurance Pool, which will allow northern Australia residents affordable and accessible home, business and strata insurance, and significantly reduce the risk of non-insurance and unsupported bank lending.