Mount Isa will the centre of decision-making on the future of Northern Australia on Thursday with Minister as Resources and Northern Australia Matt Canavan convenes a meeting of state and territory representatives here.
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The Mount Isa Ministerial Forum on Northern Development will progress job and wealth-creating endeavours across a number of areas including resources, tourism, defence industry, water and indigenous economic development.
It will bring together three Federal Ministers, as well as Queensland deputy premier Jackie Trad and ministers from Western Australia and the Northern Territory to look at policy development across the north.
Senator Canavan said the ministers had to work together to support innovation enterprise and productivity in new and existing industries to unlock Northern Australia’s full potential.
“This is a crucial opportunity to advocate for and champion northern Australia, and to promote investment opportunities in this important part of the country,” Senator Canavan said.
He said Mount Isa was a fitting location for the meeting with resources and mining on the agenda.
“The North West Minerals Province is one of the world’s richest mineral-producing regions, and it has delivered major economic benefits to Queensland for decades,” he said.
“Resources sourced from the region contribute a massive $1.3 billion to the gross regional product, employs 7700 full time employees – or almost half of the north west’s total fulltime workers - and injects around $397 million in wages to the economy.”
The forum will include tours of Mount Isa mining projects with ministers getting the chance to discuss issues with stakeholders from across the north.
Senator Canavan will be joined by fellow federal ministers Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion and Assistant Trade Minister Mark Coulton.
At a state level Queensland’s Jackie Trad will be be joined by NT ministers Nicole Manison and Lauren Moss and WA Assistant Minister for State Development, Jobs and Trade Darren West.
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