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NORTH AUSTRALIA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FORUM (NAEDF) 2008
The strategic document arising from the Forum, Pathway to Possibilities: A Blueprint for Regional Development Across Northern Australia is now available click here for your copy.
For further information please contact Frederick Marchant, CEO FNQ Area Consultative Committee ceo@fnqacc.com
Below are the key Forum concerns and recommendations.
OUTCOMES
NAEDF 2008 was held in Cairns on 27 and 28 October.
The 4 main themes of the Forum were:
Creating a sustainable economic development environment for North Australia
Industries of tropical Australia
Carbon trading and energy conservation in business
Indigenous business enterprises
The Organising Committee for the Forum which comprised the 6 Area Consultative Committees (now Regional Development Australia) across northern Australia, engaged over 100 delegates from a wide representative cross-section of stakeholders including all 3 tiers of government, business and industry, community groups and regional agencies.
The Forum focussed on the effectiveness and adequacy of regional governance under existing structures and policies to manage the sustainable growth and development of northern Australia. Key areas of concern were:
- marginalisation of the north Australia economy
- impact of climate change and rising energy prices
- the emerging carbon economy
- tropical industry opportunities and needs
- infrastructure priorities and capacity, removal of blockages and regional development needs
- the issues of remote and regional demographics and skills shortages
The Forum found that there was an urgent need to undertake a review of and reform the governance and administration of northern Australia, with a need to develop appropriate policy and institutional settings that enable local/regional communities to engage effectively in decision making, with an enhanced level of self reliance.
The Forum also identified a need to review government programs, legislation and regulations impacting on northern Australia to increase flexibility and reduce or remove those not conducive to sustainable regional economic development.
With regard to tropical knowledge and innovation, the Forum recommended development of Tropical Knowledge Centres and the creation of a Tropical Innovation Council.
The Forum also identified a need to nurture and develop in a sustainable way Indigenous businesses and address the intractable challenges facing Indigenous communities in Northern Australia .
RECOMMENDATIONS
In partnership with Government, Industry and the Community, that the Regional Development Australia network (previously Area Consultative Committees) be charged with the responsibility and given the resources to:
- develop a consortia of stakeholders to debate and progress an agreed platform for the development of northern Australia
- develop with all stakeholders (governments, industry, community) a shared vision for northern Australia and the development of effective regional governance mechanisms, policies and institutional settings
- provide a conduit for the better targeting of industry and the communities in northern Australia
- convene a workshop in early 2009 to consider current knowledge and knowledge gaps in the identification, evaluation measurement and funding of ecosystem services that might apply to northern Australia.
Delegates at the final Plenary session decided 3 key documents would be prepared:
- a Record of Proceedings (completed and available from ceo@fnqacc.com)
- a 2 page Ministerial briefing paper. This has been prepared and is being circulated to a number of federal and state Ministers and Shadow Ministers and stakeholder groups and organisations
- the strategic document as a submission to government.
People interested in following up the issues of remote and regional governance should access the RemoteFOCUS Prospectus on the Desert Knowledge Australia web site: www.desertknowledge.com.au.