THE NORTH AUSTRALIA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FORUM ONLINE

Welcome to NAEDF On-line – a forum for dissemination of opinions, news and information  relating to the challenges and priorities facing the sustainable development of northern Australia.

NAEDF On-line is regularly updated with postings through the week of news items and events, with the capacity to post regional reports, case studies and articles.

This website  is an outcome of NAEDF 2008 held in Cairns, an event coordinated by all 6 Area Consultative Committees (ACCs) across the north from Mackay to Broome. The NAEDF 2008 website was redeveloped with funding provided by the Far North Queensland Area Consultative Committee to Cape York Sustainable Futures.

North Australia was the last region of Australia to be colonised by Europeans and other early settlers. To them it was an alien land with a climate considered to be inhospitable, with terrain near impossible to traverse; a wild and very remote locale.  Today the north  shares a commonality of interests, climate, culture, landscapes and economy, with connectivity based on east-west relationships across the continent, rather than north-south.

North Australia is now Australia’s front door, occupying a critical strategic position. Our neighbours are the nations of Asia and the Pacific, with the demand of the voracious economies of China and India for raw materials providing a buffer from the impacts of global recession. North Australia is also uniquely placed as a first world economy straddling the tropics.

The region is vast, possessing enormous mineral and water resources. The industries of northern Australia are dynamic, with mining, agriculture and tourism critical to the national economy. The rapidly growing tropical industries, technology and innovation promise to reap considerable benefits for the north and the Australian economy generally.

North Australia faces many challenges not least of which is provision of infrastructure and technology to meet the demands of the 21st Century.  Most importantly however, is the need for a quality of governance which provides for local and regional decision making and overcomes the marginalisation created by remoteness from the centres of political power.  This will be  essential to enable the region to attain its full potential.

MAKING THE MOST OF NAEDF On-line

All those interested in the advancement of northern Australia, be they researchers, government agencies, institutions, industry or individuals are invited to post articles and items  on issues relating to the sustainable development of the region,  whether published papers, formal presentations, news items or short notes.    Material should be emailed to the NAEDF Online Coordinator  at  info@naedf.com

NAEDF On-line also captures current events, emergent issues and developing  concepts and strategies.  While the site does not (and will not) have a chat room or ‘comments’ facility, the objective is to disseminate information, opinions, strategies and potential resolutions concerning the wide range of challenges facing northern Australia.    This website will highlight those issues and provide links to key government, NRM, regional development and tourism organisations  and other agency websites for further information.

Several posting categories have been created:  Articles;  NAEDF Reports; NAEDF 2008 presentations;  News & Media;   Regional Development Australia, Regional Reports (e.g. observations, recommendations, field reports);  Events  (e.g. conferences, symposia, field events, training courses) and Case Studies (e.g. specific projects and programs).