Since 2000 several forums have been held to specifically focus on the challenges facing the sustainable economic development of northern Australia – Katherine NT in 2000, Cairns in 2006 and 2008, Darwin in 2008.

A number of reports arising from the Forums  can be downloaded from the Articles section.

NORTHERN AUSTRALIA FORUM, KATHERINE NT, 2000
The 2000 Northern Australia Forum held in Katherine, NT in 2000 resulted in 2 papers prepared for the Committee for Economic Development of Australia Seminar Series.
• “Investing in Northern Australia “More Than Outback – More Outfront”
• “Industry Collaboration across Northern Australia”

Overview of outcomes
Regional economies were seen as being increasingly important for the national economy in a global environment. The power of knowledge and its free and speedy dissemination was recognised. IT, rapid communication and improved transport technology were seen as driving innovation and creating competitive advantages.

Industry clustering around vital infrastructure, in proximity to markets or resources was leading to enhanced collaboration. “These clusters feature vertical as well as horizontal networks in industry value chains and include government, research and development and training and education institutions as key stakeholders in the cluster.”

In the report mechanisms for facilitating collaboration are demonstrated in case studies. There was a warning however that social, cultural and economic considerations peculiar to any development proposal would need to be considered.

A recognised key to a region’s competitive advantage was the level of face to face interaction between industry sectors to develop trust and create a learning environment. In northern Australia distance has always been a restraint to close collaboration and it was noted that isolation had given rise to parochialism and an independent attitude. Traditionally communications tended to be more north-south, rather than east-west, an observation that is still relevant in 2009.

Collaboration was seen as imperative to overcome the tyranny of distance and the smaller scale of industry in the north. The report identified the need for Australia to develop techniques to facilitate high order interactions over distance, to create a climate of trust and shared values leading to the intuitive learning that drives innovation.

The conference recognised that while collaboration was mainly targeted at market penetration, there were other significant advantages to be gained from a collaborative approach.

Examples of identified commercially beneficial outcomes from collaboration are summarised in the categories as follow:

1. Achievement of cost efficiencies
2. Reaching critical mass/economies of scale
3. Creating customer confidence in collective ability/improved ability to secure contracts
4. Improvements in productivity
5. Reduction in resource usage levels
6. Rationalisation of resources
7. Improvement in industry logistics
8. Supply chain management and planning
9. Better resourced, more effective marketing strategies
10. Improvement in innovation levels
11. Creation of new product lines
12. Improvement of market penetration/access opportunities
13. More stable, better resourced industry R&D
14. Better capacity to meet market needs/standards required
15. Rationalised industry representation dealing with clients, government etc”

NORTH AUSTRALIA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FORUM, CAIRNS 2006
Key outcomes were:
• An acknowledgement of the demonstrated success of collaboration
• Acknowledgement by all industry sectors of the need for ongoing collaboration
• Recognition of the need for continuity – to keep the focus on north Australia and to keep pushing the envelope

In looking at their industry sector, delegates addressed 4 themes:
• Recognition of trends and forces
• Addressing barriers
• Building connectivity
• Fostering and releasing creativity
Industry groups identified common interests and the key points are listed below:
Tourism: the Savannah Way significance to the north and the need to build the route to be self-sustaining.
Fishing: industry members agreed to a north Australia marketing approach
Forestry: the Forum brought together plantation and native forest interests and the dialogue is continuing. A need was identified to position the North Australian forestry as Australia’s new innovative forestry frontier
Tropical Expertise: areas of immediate significance are tropical health and tropical diseases, renewable energy, water technology, renewable energy, new agriculture technology
Small business: use the Savannah Way concept of collaboration and cooperation between regions as a model and strengthen regional hubs and centres to support remote business interests
Primary industries: building connectivity between producers and government and facilitating industry clustering were seen as a priorities
2020/2050: identified the similarities between the eastern and north/north-western regions of north Australia, their great strengths when collaborating and the strategic significance of the entire region to the nation

The results of collaboration and cooperation were on display in 2006; the Savannah Way is a prime example of what can be achieved when borders are ignored and parochial interests play second fiddle to the development of a dream. Commentary was also made in 2006 to ‘hubs’ and ‘centres of excellence’ – creation of which does not preclude collaboration, cooperation and using the assets of each to benefit the whole of north Australia.

2006 demonstrated that emphasis on tropical expertise is gaining momentum at an industry level. The commercial value of tropical ‘know-how’ is recognised by governments – NT and Qld and WA signing the Cooperative Framework on Tropical Science, Knowledge and Innovation in 2004; Queensland Government under its Smart State strategy looking at opportunities in tropical science and technology.

The 2006 Forum highlighted the fact that the geographical location of Northern Australia offered unique opportunities – being a first world economy to straddle the tropics creates competitive advantages in a wide array of areas based on sophisticated technology, design and scientific expertise not available in other tropical nations. North Australia is in the box seat.

NORTH AUSTRALIA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FORUM, CAIRNS 2008
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 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.

A paper tabled at the Forum ‘Remote Focus – revitalising remote Australia’ can  be downloaded from the Articles menu.

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.

FORUM 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.

ABC DARWIN NORTH AUSTRALIA FORUM, DARWIN 2008
Reports on a range of speakers including PM The Hon Kevin Rudd can be viewed on line at www.abc.net.au/darwin/features/naf/

North Australia exists in a competitive and global environment and we are in a race to the future. Keynote speakers at Katherine 2000 and Cairns 2006 encapsulated the urgency when they stated: “Success will go to those who get to the future first” (Katherine 2000) and “We are in a global race and the spoils go to the fleet of foot” (Cairns 2006).

FORUM REPORT DOWN LOADS (go to Articles postings)
Northern Australia Forum for Growth into the New Century, October 2000, Katherine
Pdf doc “Investing in Northern Australia “More Than Outback – More Outfront”
Pdf doc “Industry Collaboration across Northern Australia”

North Australia Economic Development Forum, April 2006, Cairns
Pdf doc : North Australia Economic Development Forum “ Outback – Outfront”

North Australia Economic Development Forum, October 2008, Cairns
Pdf doc: North Australia Economic development Forum 2008 : Record of Proceedings and Outcomes
Pdf doc: “Pathway to Possibilities – A Blueprint for Regional Development across Northern Australia”

NAEDF 2008 presentation downloads go to NAEDF 2008 presentations postings.