Northern Development in Australia - Taskforce Starts Work

Following on from the announcement by the Federal Government, the taskforce has now officially started work, with a recent meeting in Canberra.

The group will soon call for expressions of interest and ideas for developing land and water in the country's Top End. The taskforce has already commissioned work on the Ord region in Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

Taskforce chairman, NSW Liberal Senator, Bill Heffernan, says the taskforce will investigate new ways of maximising land and water use in the Ord, with a focus on strong price signals for water which will lead to water efficient infrastructure and high-value crops. He says the taskforce will urge the Northern Territory and Western Australian Governments to "come to terms with GM technology" - believing the use of genetically modified cropping in the north will be the key to its future. Both goverments have completed extensive studies on GM cotton, and indications are favourable for its use........but the respective governments have not allowed any commercial scale operations only trial plots.

Senator Heffernan acknowledged there had been some criticism of the plans for the north from the conservation movement, but said the taskforce has clearly expressed its desire to look at sustainable development options "that in no way harm mother earth". "This is all about how we deal with climate change in Australia," Senator Heffernan said. "We need to be finding practical ways to address the impact climate change is going to have on our food and fibre production in the south. "If we are going to stay at the forefront of agricultural production over the next 50 years, we have to be looking north."

Senator Heffernan said the taskforce will be looking at the "Bradfield" proposal put forward by Queensland Premier, Peter Beattie, to turn parts of the Far North East Queensland catchments inland, predominantly to secure water for mining.

David Tollner the MP from the NT is on the group, which also includes Noel Pearson.

This is very early days, but input from the north is vital, as well as input from experienced local scientists.

[partially sourced from The Land newspaper]