Above the line - unleashing the North’s potential Darwin Convention Centre 20 – 22 June 2016
northaust.org.au CONFERENCE HANDBOOK
Developing Northern Australia Conference Welcome from the Conference Chair Welcome to the second Developing Northern Australia Conference, this year at the Darwin Convention Centre. After the great success of the inaugural Conference in Townsville in 2015, the Association of Sustainability in Business has committed to continue supporting this now annual event; giving all Australians a chance to share their aspirations and experiences in regard to the business of ensuring the sustainable and fair development of this unique top half of the country. The conference now presents a great opportunity each year for those of us in the north to come together, from Carnarvon to the Capricorn Coast. Just as importantly, it brings people from elsewhere with knowledge, resources and investment to share in the north. Of particular importance this year is the fact that the Australian Government’s Whitepaper on Developing Northern Australia is nearing its first full year of implementation. The conference presents a chance to review progress, and to maintain the focus on those priorities, issues and processes that will deliver genuine progress in the short to medium term. With a focus on building economic diversity, this year’s conference program includes a wider range of topics, covering the many issues facing sustainable development of our region. It also importantly aims to help build a focus on supporting the aspirations of traditional owners across the north, and the many opportunities and challenges they face in progressing their vision of development. I commend the conference to you and thank the Association of Sustainability in Business for their continued support. Regards
Developing Northern Australia Conference
General Information The following information is offered to make your attendance at the Developing Northern Australia Conference as pleasant as possible. If you require assistance, please visit the Conference Secretariat at the registration desk or call 0435 354 953.
Registration and Information Desk The registration desk will be open as follows: Monday 20 June 2016 7:00 am – 5:00 pm Tuesday 21 June 2016 7:30 am – 5:00 pm Upon arrival, please ensure you collect your Conference satchel and name badge at the registration desk.
Conference Entry
Each Conference Delegate will be issued with a name badge on registering. The name badge must be worn at all times as it is your official pass to all sessions, meal breaks and the Welcome Reception.
Conference Twitter @DevelopNorthAus
Join the conversation by using the hashtag #DNA16. Delegates are encouraged to share their thoughts throughout the Conference.
Accommodation
Accommodation accounts must be settled with the hotel on check out. The Committee nor the Secretariat are not responsible in any way for outstanding accommodation accounts.
Speakers Prep Room
Allan Dale Professor of Tropical Regional Development, The Cairns Institute, James Cook University
Speakers are requested to attend the Speakers Prep Room at least 1 hour prior to your scheduled time of presentation with your presentation on USB.
Mobile Phones
Please ensure all mobile phones are switched to silent during all conference sessions.
Tours
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE Dr Allan Dale, Professor of Tropical Regional Development, The Cairns Institute, James Cook University (Chair) Peter Sugg, Chief Executive Officer, Association for Sustainability in Business Inc. (Co-Chair) Professor Scott Bowman, Vice Chancellor, Central Queensland University Chris Mitchell, Executive Officer, RDA Kimberley Kate Peake, Chief Executive Officer, RDA Northern Territory Bridgette Bellenger, Northern Australia Development Office Andrew Dickson, Office of Northern Australia, Policy & Research Division Melissa George, Chief Executive Officer, NAILSMA Professor Ruth Wallace, Director of the Northern Institute, Charles Darwin University Sue Trewin, Program Director, Association for Sustainability in Business Inc.
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
Tours can be booked during the conference - see the conference secretariat at the registration desk. Tour information is available on page 19.
Conference Secretariat
Debra Thompson Developing Northern Australia Conference PO Box 29, Nerang QLD 4211 Ph: 07 5502 2068 Fax: 07 5527 3298 Mob: 0435 354 953 Email:
[email protected] URL: www.northaust.org.au
Telephone Directory Registration Desk
0435 354 953
AST Management Pty Ltd
07 5502 2068
Virgin Australia
136 789
Qantas
131 313
Jetstar
131 538
Taxi
131 008
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
KEYNOTE PRESENTERS
KEYNOTE PRESENTERS
Russell Barnett, Partner, Australian Venture Consultants
The Hon Adam Giles MLA, Northern Territory Chief Minister (Welcome Address)
Russell has approximately 20 years of experience in complex policy, strategic and operational analysis across a range of industries in the Australasian and Asia Pacific Region. His principal focus is the primary and allied industries, where he has led significant analytical and strategic planning projects for corporate, government and industry organisation clients on issues as diverse as workforce dynamics, taxation, technology road-mapping and regional development. Russell has had extensive exposure to issues facing the development of particularly north-western Australia through his work with the Western Australian minerals and petroleum sectors, and as the principal advisor to Broome Future Limited, a not-for-profit organisation advocating for the sustainable economic, social and cultural development of the West Kimberley Region.
The Hon John Brumby, National President, Australia China Business Council The Hon John Brumby was the former Premier of Victoria (2007 – 2010) and has immense experience in public life serving for more than 10 years as Treasurer and then Premier of Victoria, 6 years as Leader of the Victorian Opposition and 7 years as Federal MHR for Bendigo during the period of the Hawke Government. During his time as Treasurer and then Premier, Mr Brumby forged closer links with China and Hong Kong, releasing Victoria’s first ever China Strategy, visiting China on numerous occasions, opening new trade and investment offices in Nanjing and Shanghai and officially welcoming then Vice President Xi Jinping to Melbourne in 2010. Since retiring from politics, Mr Brumby has accepted a number of appointments in both the business and not-for-profit sectors, including: • • • • • •
National President of the Australia China Business Council; Chairman of the Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA) Superannuation Fund; Chairman of Citywide Service Solutions Pty Ltd; Independent Director of Huawei Technologies (Australia) Pty Limited; Chair of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute; and Chairman of the Fred Hollows Foundation.
Mr Brumby is also a Professorial Fellow at both the University of Melbourne and Monash University. He is widely published on a range of issues including Federation, tax reform and China and in October 2015 released his book titled ‘The Long Haul – Lessons from Public Life’.
Tony Eyres, Senior Investment Specialist, Austrade Tony was appointed Senior Investment Specialist in 2015, a national role in attracting productive foreign direct investment (FDI) into Australia. Tony works closely with the Australian Trade Commission’s global network and Australian state and territory governments. In this role, Tony develops and facilitates local investment project opportunities, facilitates FDI projects of strategic national interest where barriers to implementation have been identified and works with existing foreign investors to Australia in securing reinvestment. Prior to joining Austrade, Tony was as an Executive Director with UBS Global Asset Management, in Sydney, Australia. This followed 20 years working in and alongside corporate and financial entities, NGOs and government agencies in Australia and in New Zealand with Fonterra, a global FMCG company. Tony holds a degree in agricultural and resource economics, complemented by several executive development programs, including at the Harvard Business School.
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
Adam Giles was sworn in as Chief Minister of the Northern Territory on March 14, 2013. He also holds the portfolios of: Tourism, Northern and Central Australia, Economic Development and Major Projects, Indigenous Affairs, Police, Fire and Emergency Services. He is a staunch advocate of the Territory’s strategic value to rest of the country and is leading a campaign to make the Northern Territory the central hub for the whole of Northern Australian Development. Mr Giles is also a big supporter of private investment and forming partnerships with government to unlock the Territory’s economic potential.
Clare Martin, Chair, Territory Natural Resource Management Clare Martin is a former Chief Minister of the Northern Territory. She led the Labor Party to its first ever win in 2001 and was Chief Minister for six years. During that time Clare held a number of portfolios, but relevant to this conference are Treasury, Asian Relations and Trade, the Australasian Railway and Major Projects. Since leaving politics in 2008, Clare was the CEO of ACOSS – the Australian Council of Social Service - and a Professorial Fellow at Charles Darwin University. Currently she is Chair of Territory Natural Resource Management, Chair of the Darwin Festival and a director on a number of other boards, including the Climate Institute and NT Cricket. Clare has lived in the Northern Territory since 1983 – she’s almost a Territorian
Professor Ruth Wallace, Director, Northern Institute, Charles Darwin University Ruth leads the Workforce Development, Migration and Pathways to Learning theme which focuses on collaborative approaches to workforce development and engagement with community, governments and industry that are sustainable and scalable. Ruth is also the ‘Secure Futures’ Program Leader for the Plant Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre, with a focus on building resilience through community engagement and collaborative knowledge and management systems for biosecurity surveillance. Ruth has a strong relationship and working history with Vocational Education and Training – across regional and remote WA, QLD and NT in VET. Her PhD focuses on the needs of learners in regional areas in relation to education and education systems. Her research interests relate to the links between identity, marginalised learners and the development of effective learning and workforce pathways. Ruth’s research connects to mobile learning pedagogies, literacy and numeracy learning and approaches to workforce development in remote enterprises.
Ms Sharon Warburton, Chair Designate , Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility Sharon has predominantly operated within the construction, mining and infrastructure sectors throughout her 25+ year career. She is the 2014 WA Telstra Business Woman of the Year, the 2015 NAB Women’s Agenda Mentor of the Year and a 2015 Finalist for the Westpac AFR 100 Women of Influence. Sharon qualified as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG Perth in 1994. Shortly after she joined Hamersley Iron. Following a number of years in taxation and accounting roles Sharon was seconded to Rio Tinto’s London Head Office where she worked with management on a range of mines across the globe.
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
KEYNOTE PRESENTERS Sharon joined the Multiplex Group in Sydney at the time of its listing in early 2004. Sharon was directly involved in the project management of the Brookfield takeover of Multiplex as well as the subsequent integration of Brookfield Multiplex.
PROGRAM DAY 1 - Monday 20 June 2016
In 2008, Sharon relocated to Abu Dhabi in the UAE. During her two years in the UAE Sharon worked on a broad range of projects including Yas Island Formula One precinct for Aldar Properties PJSC.
7:45 – 8:45
Sharon joined the board of Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) in 2013 as a Non-Executive Director. She now chairs the FMG Remuneration and Nominations Committee and is a member of the Audit & Risk Committee.
Room: Waterfront Rooms
She is a Non-Executive Director for Western Power, Gold Road Resources Limited and Wellard Limited and a part-time member of the Takeovers Panel. Sharon is also a Director of the fund raising NFP for the Princess Margaret Hospital for Children in Perth and the Patron of their Emerging Leaders in Philanthropy programme. She is Curtin Alumni, an Advisory Board Member for the Curtin Business School Asia Business Centre and the Patron for the Curtin Women in MBA scholarship programme.
Registration with arrival tea and coffee
Conference Opening
Ms Sue Trewin, Program Director, Association for Sustainability in Business 8:45 – 9:00
Welcome to Country
Bilawara Lee, Larrakia Elder
Sharon was recently appointed by The Hon Julie Bishop Minister for Foreign Affairs as WA’s first business champion for the New Colombo Plan. Sharon’s role will promote the value of regional study to students’ career prospects and in fostering business engagement with the New Colombo Plan.
Conference Chair Address
Chris Wilson, President, ConocoPhillips Australia Business Unit West
Welcome to Conference
Chris has 25 years’ experience in the energy industry, working on ConocoPhillips projects in the UK, Houston, Dubai and Alaska in technical and senior management roles ranging from reservoir engineer to global manager of Strategy, Planning and Portfolio Management working with ConocoPhillips Executive Leadership Team.
Dr Allan Dale, Conference Chair
9:00 - 9:15
The Hon Adam Giles, MLA, Northern Territory Chief Minister, Minister for Tourism, Minister for Northern and Central Australia, Minister for Economic Development and Major Projects, and Minister for Indigenous Affairs
Operating since 2006, DLNG has been a pioneer for the energy industry in Northern Australia, safely delivering more than 32milllion tonnes of LNG to customers and building a global reputation for Darwin as an investment destination.
9:15 – 9:45
Opening Address
Chris has a master’s degree in petroleum engineering from Imperial College, University of London, and a bachelor’s degree with honours in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Aberdeen.
9:45 – 10:15
The role of China in unleashing the North’s potential
10:15 – 10:45
Sharing Risk and Managing Opportunities – A New Way of Doing Business in the North
Peter Yu, Chief Executive Officer, Nyamba Buru Yawuru Peter Yu is a Yawuru Man from Broome in the Kimberley region in North West Australia with over 35 years’ experience in Indigenous development and advocacy in the Kimberley and at the state, national and international level. He has been an advocate for the social, cultural and economic advancement and well-being of Kimberley and other Aboriginal communities for his entire career. Over this period he has been instrumental in the development of many community based regional organisations. He was Executive Director of the Kimberley Land Council during the 1990s and had a national leadership role negotiating the Australian nation’s response to the High Court’s 1992 Mabo decision. Peter was a key negotiator on behalf of the Yawuru Native Title Holders with the Western Australian State Government and Shire of Broome over the landmark 2010 Yawuru native title agreement and was the first CEO of the Yawuru Corporate Group. He is deputy Chair of the AFL Aboriginal Advisory Committee, Deputy Chair of Broome Future Ltd, and a Board member of the National Museum of Australia.
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
Sharon Warburton, Chair Designate, Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility The Hon John Brumby, National President, Australia China Business Council
Peter Yu, Chief Executive Officer, Nyamba Buru Yawuru 10:45 – 11:15
Morning Tea with Exhibitors - Ground Floor Foyer
Room: Waterfront Rooms 11:15 – 11:45
Chair: Bridgette Bellenger The LNG Industry and Sustainable Northern Development
Chris Wilson, President, ConocoPhillips Australia Business Unit West 11:45 – 12:15
Northern Development needs a sustainable environment
12:15 – 1:30
Networking Lunch with Exhibitors - Ground Floor Foyer
Clare Martin, Chair, Territory Natural Resource Management
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
PROGRAM
PROGRAM
Land and Water Forum Leader: Peter Stone Room: Waterfront Room 1
Indigenous Affairs Forum Leader: Melissa George Room: Waterfront Room 2
Food and Agribusiness Forum Leader: Terry Hill Room: Waterfront Room 3
International Education Forum Leader: Prof Simon Maddocks Room: Meeting Room 2
Sustainable Development of the North’s Blue Economy - How Understanding Our Environmental Assets Can Streamline Investment
Reframing the conversation about native title: opportunities not barriers; benefits not
Aquaculture – realising the potential economic development powerhouse for the North
Sponsored International Education Programs – more than an “off the shelf” training package
Hamish Jolly, Program Leader North West Australia, Australian Institute of Marine Science
Raelene Webb, President, National Native Title Tribunal
Professor Iain Gordon, Deputy Vice Chancellor Tropical Environments & Societies, James Cook University
Sharon McGregor, Manager, Research Grants and Business Development Lorraine Sushames, Contracts Manager/Lecturer, Charles Darwin University
Water resources in northern Australia: Science, security and sustainability
The transition to a sustainable land economy in northern Australia
New and Old Crops for Northern Australia
Evaluation of Key Outcomes and the Influence of Pedagogical Practice on successful Indigenous Training and Employment programs 2013-2015
Professor Michael Douglas, Hub Leader NESP Northern Australia Environmental Resources Hub
Professor Jeremy Russell-Smith, Research Coordinator, Darwin Centre for Bushfire Research, Charles Darwin University Mr Ian Chambers, Senior Researcher, Australian National University
Robert Henry, Director, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation
Steve Forbes-Taber, Discipline Leader, Mining, Building and Civil Services, TAFE NSW Riverina Institute Kerry Footman, Workforce & Community Development Manager, TAFE NSW Riverina Institute
Land and water investigations and targeted
Transforming Northern Australia through
capital investment underpin economic
innovative engagement
FORUM SPONSOR 1:30 - 1:45
1:45 - 2:00
2:00 - 2:15
problems
growth for development in northern western
Can winter cereals be developed into a major industry Why do international students choose to study in the for tropical Australia? Northern Territory? Dr John Christopher, Senior Research Fellow, Queensland Alicia Boyle, Research Fellow, Charles Darwin University Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation
Australia
Dr Richard George, Principal Research Scientist Department of Agriculture and Food
Nolan Hunter, Chief Executive Officer, Kimberley Land Council
Skimming the cream of the opportunity milk
Partnership Opportunities and Ownership
Dr Cuan Petheram, Research Scientist, CSIRO
Crocs across the top
The Critical Role of High Quality Education Options in Sustaining Regional Cities
Ritchie Ah Mat, Chair, Cape York Land Council
John Lever, Manager, Koorana Crocodile Farm
Russell Claus, Executive Manager Regional Development, Rockhampton Regional Council
Conservation economy opportunities in Northern Australia
Partnerships, empowerment and the First Australians in Northern Australia
SmartFarm – An Innovative Approach to Export of Premium Food Produce
Dr Allan Dale, Professor of Tropical Regional Development, James Cook University
Susan Murphy, Chief Executive Officer, Winun Ngari Aboriginal Corporation
2:45 - 3:05
Panel Discussion/ Questions
Panel Discussion incl. speakers and Joe Morrison, CEO, Northern Land Council
3:05 - 3:30
Afternoon Tea with Exhibitors - Ground Floor Foyer
2:15 - 2:30
2:30 - 2:45
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
Ben Schnitzerling, Principal, Australasia Transport and Resources Leader, Arup
Mark Darby, General Manager International Education & Training Hub, Department of Education, Northern Territory Government
Panel Discussion/ Questions
Panel Discussion/ Questions
Afternoon Tea with Exhibitors - Ground Floor Foyer
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
PROGRAM
3:30 - 3:45
3:45 - 4:00
4:00 - 4:15
PROGRAM
Land and Water Forum Leader: Peter Stone Room: Waterfront Room 1
Indigenous Affairs Forum Leader: Melissa George Room: Waterfront Room 2
Food and Agribusiness Forum Leader: Terry Hill Room: Waterfront Room 3
Open Discussion Forum Leader: Cr John Wharton Room: Meeting Room 2
Opportunities for Managed Forests in Northern Australia
Triple bottom line and Yolngu knowledge
Diminishing distance: How keeping in touch with your
The New North
for indigenous business development
product can deliver premium quality from the north
Bob Gordon, Director and Acting Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Foresters Australia
Rod Baker, Managing Director, Cultivate NT Pty Ltd
Peter Hofman, Team leader, Supply Chain Innovations, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
David Kaesehagen, Managing Director, Ecoscape Australia Pty Ltd
Driving investment through land tenure
Social return on Indigenous fishing
The Future of Development
reforms
enterprises
Australia’s Biosecurity Future - Implications for Northern Australia
Gavin Scott, Partner, Ashurst Tony Denholder, Partner, Ashurt
Robert Carne, Senior Indigenous Policy Manager, Department of Primary Industry & Fisheries
Gary Fitt, Science Director, CSIRO Health and Biosecurity
Michael Kitzelmann, Chief Executive Officer Etheridge Shire Council
Supporting sustainable growth within a
Wild Cattle Pilot Project-An Indigenous Economic Initiative
Innovating Northern Australian Native Foods
Lifestyle communities - development initiatives needed
variable and changing climate
to attract and retain workers and families
Dr Geraldine McGuire, Managing Director, Rainforest Bounty
Tony Cox, Landscape Architect, Director, CLOUSTON Associates
Dr Robert Argent, R&D Manager/WIRADA Director, Bureau of Meteorology
Brian Arnold, General Manager, Aboriginal Benefit Development Trust Jacob Cassady, Chief Executive Officer, Mugalla Statio
Economically managing the North’s water
IBA and the Business Development and Assistance Program
Why a truly collaborative approach is vital to growing Enabling Infrastructure & Investment needs agribusiness in Northern Australia - Building the enabling policy Rookwood Weir
Nathan Taylor, Chief Economist, CEDA
Wally Tallis, General Manager, Indigenous Business Australia
Anne Stunzner, Project Manager, Growing Central Queensland
Patrick Hill, Chairman, Outback Highway Development Council Helen Lewis, General Manager, Outback Highway Development Council
Offsetting environmental impacts of mega resources projects: clever policy or greenwash?
Diversifying Indigenous livelihoods in Northern Australia: current research
Why would you NOT invest in the Australian agriculture sector?
Digital Health: Enabling Equity of Access and Community Development in Northern Australia
Professor Andrew Campbell, Director, Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University
Marcus Barber, Senior Research Scientist, CSIRO Nerida Horner, NT Science
Matt Coetzee, Manager Australian and New Zealand Offices, Aurecon
Dr David Hansen, Chief Executive Officer Australian e-Health Research Centre, CSIRO
4:45 - 5:05
Panel Discussion/ Questions
Panel Discussion/ Questions
Panel Discussion/ Questions
5:10 - 6:30
Welcome Reception - Sponsored by Northern Regional Development Australia Alliance Ground Floor Foyer
4:15 - 4:30
resources
4:30 - 4:45
issues and future prospects
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
Welcome Reception - Sponsored by Northern Regional Development Australia Alliance Ground Floor Foyer
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
PROGRAM DAY 2 - Tuesday 21 June 2016 8:30 – 9:00
Registration with arrival tea and coffee
Room: Waterfront Rooms 9:00 – 9:45
Day 1 Outcomes Facilitator: Craig Wilson, Senior Executive Director, North Queensland Policy Division, Department of Premier and Cabinet Forum Leaders: • • • • •
9:45 – 10:15
Peter Stone - Land and Water Professor Simon Maddocks - International Education Melissa George - Indigenous Affairs Terry Hill - Food and Agribusiness Councillor John Wharton - Open Discussion
Chair: Chris Mitchell Workforce Development that supports Economic Investment in Remote Northern Australia Professor Ruth Wallace, Director, Northern Institute Charles Darwin University
10:15 - 10:45
Morning Tea with Exhibitors - Ground Floor Foyer
The Department of Industry, Innovation and Science – Office of Northern Australia The Department of Industry, Innovation and Science works to enable growth and productivity for globally competitive industries. This event is sponsored by the department through the Office of Northern Australia, which supports and implements departmental responsibilities in northern Australia. Northern Australia is a region of rich promise, accessible resources and pristine environments and is Australia’s gateway to the markets and opportunities of Asia. The Office of Northern Australia is a conduit between all levels of government, industry and the people of northern Australia and provides advice and initiatives to drive economic growth and investment. From its base in Darwin, ONA looks at growth in the north through: • • • • • •
the better use of land and water resources a welcoming investment environment improved governance and reduced regulatory burden investment in infrastructure to lower costs for businesses and households a skilled workforce that meets the growing needs of the north enhanced air, land and sea transport links to, from and within the north.
Actions will be taken in each of these key areas in partnership with those who live, work and do business in northern Australia, to build on the successes of the north and to ensure opportunities continue to be realised. To contact the Office of Northern Australia, please email
[email protected]. For further information, please refer to the website at http://northernaustralia.gov.au
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
PROGRAM
PROGRAM
Workforce Forum Leader: Dr Scott Davis Room: Waterfront Room 1
Tourism Forum Leader: Dr Philip Pearce Room: Waterfront Room 2
Infrastructure Forum Leader: Steve Lewis Room: Waterfront Room 3
Governance Forum Leader: Mark Coffey Room: Meeting Room 2
Why come, why stay, why bother? The
Northern Australia - A Call for Tourism Action
The need for energy innovation to power the grid-less Governance in Northern Australia Northern Australia
Dr Connar McShane, Lecturer in Psychology James Cook University Margaret Atkinson, Research Partnership Development Manager, James Cook University
Paul Victory, General Manager Qld & NT, SeaLink Queensland
John Davidson, Chief Executive Officer, Energy Made Clean
Australian Institute of Company Directors
Professional Workforce Challenges for Northern Australia
Attracting Asian Tourists to Northern Australia
Providing energy security in Northern Australia through well-sited hybridised renewable energy
Effective Governance and Economic Development
Dr Alison Gaines, General Manager, Gerard Daniels
Professor Noel Scott, Professor, Griffith Institute for Tourism, Griffith University
An allied health rural and remote
Growing Indigenous Tourism by improving
employment model to enhance workforce
assets and delivering compelling cultural
sustainability
experiences
Ilsa Nielsen, Principal Workforce Officer QLD Dept of Health
Clare Carroll, Chief Executive Officer, IBA Tourism Asset Management Pty Ltd
Key factors in the attraction and retention of local staff in remote Northern Australian regions
Innovation Based Tourism Development in Northern Australia
Dr Judith Lovell, Senior Research Fellow Charles Darwin University
Professor Bruce Prideaux, Professor of Sustainable Tourism, CQ University
Our North, whose future: What is the scope for Aboriginal workforce development?
The Tourism-Trade relationship and Northern Australia’s international connectivity
Dr Eva McRae-Williams, Principal Research Leader, Batchelor Institute of Indigenous, Tertiary Education – CRC for Remote Economic Participation Associate Professor John Guenther, Principal Research Leader, Flinders University - CRC for Remote Economic Participation
Stephen Prasser, Director Commercial and Aviation Department, Northern Territory Airports
12:00 - 12:15
Panel Discussion/ Questions
Panel Discussion/ Questions
12:15 - 1:15
Networking Lunch with Exhibitors - Ground Floor Foyer
FORUM SPONSOR 10:45 - 11:00
challenge of recruiting and retaining skilled workers in
11:00 - 11:15
11:15 - 11:30
11:30 - 11:45
11:45 - 12:00
Northern Australia
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
generation solutions
Dr Lissa van Camp, Principal Environmental Scientist Golder Associates
Jason Eades, Chief Executive Officer, PwC Indigenous Consulting
Accelerating Northern Australia’s Energy Future
Governance by the People, For the People: But How?
Mark Paterson, Domain Leader – Grids + Renewable Energy Integration, CSIRO Energy
Keith Noble, Director, Terrain NRM
CoastAdapt: supporting coastal stakeholders to manage coastal climate risk in Australia
The Emerging Role of Regional Cities in Economic Development
Dr David Rissik, Deputy Director, National Climate Change Russell Claus, Executive Manager Regional Development, Adaptation Research Facility, Griffith University Rockhampton Regional Council
By Land Or By Sea - Subsea telecommunications cables in North-west Australia
Governance in a new policy environment - the role of Government
Dr Paul Brooks, General Manager, Networks & Technology, Trident Subsea Cable
Anne Neil, Manager, Department of the Premier and Cabinet Qld
Panel Discussion/ Questions
Panel Discussion/ Questions
Networking Lunch with Exhibitors - Ground Floor Foyer
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
PROGRAM
PROGRAM
Business, Trade and Investment Forum Leader: Luke Bowen Room: Waterfront Room 1
Defence Forum Leader: Andrew Jones Room: Waterfront Room 2
Infrastructure Forum Leader: Steve Lewis Room: Waterfront Room 3
Tropical Health Forum Leader: Prof Ian Wronski Room: Meeting Room 2
Driving Investment Decisions
Innovation and Infrastructure: What the 2016 Defence White Paper means for Industry in Northern Australia
Sustainable Infrastructure Development for the Tropics - Northern Australia in a global context
Strengthening Partnerships between ACHOs and PHNs
Karen Green, Business Advisory Lead Partner Deloitte
Mr Mike Kalms, Defence Industry Lead Partner KPMG
Ann Penny, Project Manager - State of the Tropics James Cook University
Matthew Cooke, Chief Executive Officer, QAIHC
A new DEAL - the value of regional data
continued...
Australia’s cities of tomorrow: Light rail as an agent Joining the pipeline: a medical specialist training
FORUM SPONSOR 1:15 - 1:30
1:30 - 1:45
Rob Hall, Economist, .id consulting Carley Scott, Chief Executive Officer, Developing East Arnhem Limited 1:45 - 2:00
Balancing environmental protection and development in Northern Australia
A Defence precinct at the Rockhampton Airport
for change
system to serve the priority needs of northern
Toby Lodge, Principal, HASSELL
Professor Richard Murray, Dean of Medicine and Head of School, James Cook University
Transport Network Strategic Investment Tool (TraNSIT) - application to $100 million Northern Australia Beef Roads Programme and other
Tropical Health – Innovation and Commercialisation
Australia
agriculture
Patrice Brown, Company Director, CQG Consulting
Councillor Neil Fisher, Rockhampton Regional Council
Dr Andrew Higgins, Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO
Professor Louis Schofield, Director, Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine
Attracting investors through global
Defence the Customer & Industry the Supplier
Inland Queensland Roads Action Plan (IQ-RAP) - a
Building integrated Disaster preparedness, capacity and resilience in the North
Lincoln Parker, Group Manager Business Development, Trade & Investment Queensland Queensland Government
Andrew Jones, President, Australian Industry and Defence Network NT
David Donohue, Advocacy Team Leader, Regional Development Australia (Townsville and North West Queensland)
Bronte Martin, Nursing Director (Trauma & Disaster), National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre
Distance is no longer tyranny
Summary from the Forum Leader
Novel test to solve the G6PD dilemma?
Priscilla Radice, Principal, Maritime & Aviation Business Leader Australasia, Arup Pty Limited Penny Hall, Associate, Integrated Design + Planning Leader Australasia, Arup Pty Limited
Andrew Jones, President, Australian Industry and Defence Network NT
Urban design, informatics and analytics – new tools for creating visionary cities in Northern Australia’s
2:30 - 2:50
Panel Discussion/ Questions
Panel Discussion/ Questions
2:50 - 3:20
Afternoon Tea with Exhibitors - Ground Floor Foyer
2:00 - 2:15
presence and industry collaboration
2:15 - 2:30
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
regional development initiative
future
Andrew Dingjan, Director, AURIN
Dr Kamala Thriemer, Clinical Research Coordinator, Menzies School of Health Research
Panel Discussion/ Questions
Panel Discussion/ Questions
Afternoon Tea with Exhibitors - Ground Floor Foyer
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
PROGRAM
TOURS - 22 JUNE BOOKINGS ARE NECESSARY - CONTACT THE SECRETARIAT
Waterfront Rooms 3:20 - 3:50
Chair: Dr Allan Dale Developing Northern Australia: A Perspective from the West Russell Barnett, Partner, Australian Venture Consultants
3:50 - 4:20
Concept Reality
Tony Eyres, Senior Investment Specialist, Austrade 4:20 – 5:00
Day 2 Outcomes Facilitator: Craig Wilson, Senior Executive Director, North Queensland Policy Division, Department of Premier and Cabinet Forum Leaders • • • • • • •
5:00 – 5:10
Dr Scott Davis - Workforce Mark Coffey - Governance Dr Philip Pearce - Tourism Steve Lewis - Infrastructure Luke Bowen - Business, Trade & Investment Professor Ian Wronski - Tropical Health Andrew Jones - Defence
Humpty Doo Barramundi Farm Tour
Arafura Timor Research Facility Tour
In the beginning, there were crocs, mozzies, mangroves and a dream. As a privately owned and operated family business, Humpty Doo Barramundi has been producing premium barramundi since 1993. From the humble beginnings the business has grown to become one of the largest producers of salt water barramundi in Australia.
The Arafura Timor Research Facility (ATRF) is the base for the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) in Darwin. It provides modern, multi-functional laboratories to support research into coastal and marine ecology across Northern Australia. The ATRF is also a logistics centre underpinning field work in the estuaries and wetlands of the Top End, and marine studies of the Arafura/Timor Seas and the two northern gulfs.
From the earliest days starting with little money, no land, no knowledge but owner Bob Richard’s strong vision of what might be, the team worked with recycled equipment and building materials, assisted by volunteer labourers, to develop Humpty Doo Barramundi to the professional and dynamic organisation it is today. As a pioneer Humpty Doo Barramundi has made significant investment into research and development and trial and error farming in untried territory. The company’s commitment to continuous improvement lead to innovative solutions, such as a world first “intelligent and responsive” computer controlled barramundi feeding system through the Industry Cooperative Innovation Program.
Conference Close
Dr Allan Dale, Conference Chair
In April 2013 Humpty Doo Barramundi celebrated its 20th year of operations. The celebrations included the official opening of their biggest expansion yet – doubling the production area of the farm. A true success story demonstrating vision and ingenuity; an example of northern Australia’s potential.
ARDC Australian Regional Development Conference
Delegates will see the farm in operation with stops at the nursery, ponds, and packing facility. Watch the team harvesting the barramundi and taste the produce. With commentary provided by the owners this visit is an example of providing employment opportunities for local people; research and development; water management; continuous improvement and investment in the North. Wear closed in comfortable shoes.
Regional Australia - Planning, Participation and Progress
Hyatt Hotel Canberra | 5-7 September 2016
Coach departs Darwin Convention Centre at 8:30amReturns at 1:30 pm
The visit to the ATRF will showcase our Aquaria Facility, tropical ecotoxicology and contaminants studies in NT coastal waters, modelling activities in Darwin Port informing its development, and the joint AIMS – Geoscience Australia – NT Government exercise in benthic habitat mapping in Darwin and Bynoe Harbours. The Aquaria Facility is a satellite of the National Sea Simulator (SeaSim) at AIMS headquarters outside Townsville. It maintains the brood stock for tropical ecotoxicology services and also the means for controlledenvironment testing. Contaminants (metals, petroleum hydrocarbons, pesticides, and chemicals of emerging concern) from industrial and urban development can harm the coastal marine environment. AIMS-NT are studying these contaminants directly, and also their effects and establishing guidelines with specialised tropical ecotoxicology. The tour will highlight some recent examples of this work. Hydrodynamic and sediment transport models are aiding the development of the Port of Darwin with tools for safer navigation and primary information to support development of new port infrastructure. Model simulations of currents and suspended sediment movement in the waterway will be screened for visitors. The gap in knowledge of the substrate and benthic habitats of Darwin and Bynoe Harbours has been tackled in recent years by collaboration among AIMS, Geoscience Australia and the NT Government. Mapping this year has moved to Bynoe Harbour, and will also continue in the shallower margins of Darwin Harbour. A range of images from these recent activities, supported by INPEX environmental offsets funding, will be presented for the ATRF tour.
Coach departs Darwin Convention Centre at 9:00 am Returns at 1:30 pm
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
SESSION ABSTRACTS Dr Robert Argent, R&D Manager/WIRADA Director, Bureau of Meteorology and CSIOR
Ms Margaret Atkinson, Research Partnership Development Manager, James Cook University
Supporting sustainable growth within a variable and changing climate
Dr Connar McShane, Lecturer in Psychology, James Cook University
The Bureau of Meteorology is Australia’s national weather, climate and water information agency. It collects a vast amount of environmental data from the atmosphere, oceans, water, land and space analysed and ingested into models to extract insights and provide forecasts. A broad range of products and services support informed decision-making and long-term planning by governments, emergency services, the community, business and industry. The Bureau already plays a significant role in supporting economic development and ensuring community safety in northern Australia, and is the leading meteorological agency for the Asia-Pacific region for tropical environmental services. Many economically important, weather-sensitive industries rely on Bureau services to mitigate weather-related risk, particularly from extreme weather. Better local-scale understanding of rainfall variability and extremes, groundwater aquifers and resources, and the capacity for new water storages will help facilitate the development of northern Australia. The Bureau’s climate and water data, analysis and tailored advisory services can inform threat assessments posed by natural hazards, climate variability and change, and in managing the effects of the sharply contrasting dry and wet seasons. The Bureau has proven capability to support industries and communities in understanding and managing these conditions. Improved utilisation of both short- and longer-term weather, water and climate information (e.g. seasonal outlooks, targeted dispersion modelling, and flood forecasts), will assist in harnessing opportunities for agricultural growth in high-value crops and livestock. Water access and security is a priority for northern Australia, where much of the landscape experiences highly variable seasonal rainfall. The Bureau’s environmental information is important for harnessing development opportunities, such as securing water supplies for irrigated agriculture or mining operations, and building resilient infrastructure. The Bureau’s role will increase, as activities in the region continue to expand, improving services by leveraging investment in supercomputing, new satellite technology and enhanced weather, flood and climate forecasting.
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
Why come, why stay, why bother? The challenge of recruiting and retaining skilled workers in Northern Australia Attracting and retaining a workforce of appropriately skilled and educated workers to Northern Australia is a complex challenge that is likely to affect many new agricultural development proposals in the North. Experience from the ‘mining boom’ suggests there is a need to reimagine what constitutes resilient communities to underpin sustainable growth at a regional scale. In many cases, research suggests that though remuneration and access to services and infrastructure is foundational for workers who are contemplating the move to a region or remaining in a region, these factors are not necessarily the tipping point in the decision. For instance, drivers of these decisions can also include social (e.g. community, family), environmental (e.g. recreational) and aesthetic (e.g. attractiveness of town) factors. To further complicate matters, the drivers of the decision to move to a region may not be the same drivers for the decision to stay in a region for different workers. For example, though a FIFO work structure may be an attractive reason to initiate employment in a region, it may not be enough to stay in that job in that region. Therefore, the development of a skilled workforce in Northern Australia needs to be conceptualised more comprehensively and holistically. It needs to consider not only what is beneficial for the employer but also for the worker, their family and the local community. This presentation will discuss the complexities of workforce development in relation to the effect of different methods of employment on workers, the employer and the community. Examples will be drawn from a recent project that explored attraction and retention of skilled workers to the aquaculture industry in Northern Australia. Recommendations will be provided for approaching workforce development from a holistic and multi-faceted framework that ensures lasting economic and social stability within a community.
Mr Rod Baker, Managing Director, Cultivate NT Pty Ltd Triple bottom line and Yolngu knowledge for indigenous business development Cultivate NT supports indigenous people establish
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
SESSION ABSTRACTS family based economic self sufficiency through business development. The three elements of the triple bottom line; economic, social and environmental, are used to map out development pathways to achieve sustainable businesses. The economic knowledge understandings and practices required to run a business are interpreted through existing sophisticated Yolngu metaphors enable meaningful and empowered engagement with business development. This approach has underpinned the formation of family owned propriety limited corporations that are developing primary production enterprises utilising natural resources and current market demand for unique produce.
Dr Marcus Barber, Senior Research Scientist, CSIRO Diversifying Indigenous livelihoods in Northern Australia: current research issues and future prospects Indigenous people have owned and occupied Northern Australia for many millennia and have articulated clear objectives for sustainable, diversified, and long-term social and economic development. Through processes of recognition and restitution in recent decades, Indigenous traditional owners now have control over substantial holdings of land and associated natural resources in the region. This presentation analyses key issues for achieving Indigenous social, economic, and environmental objectives, and then outlines current and future pathways for research to facilitate and enable that process. It draws on recent and current CSIRO collaborative and co-research projects undertaken by members of the presentation team with Indigenous communities across Northern Australia in locations ranging from the Pilbara to the Torres Strait. This work focuses on key issues for sustainable development: local Indigenous enterprise and livelihood development; participation in emerging markets; natural and cultural resource management; research priorities for Indigenous lands; and Indigenous perspectives on and participation in larger-scale, externally-generated development initiatives. Novel and effective partnerships between Indigenous communities, research agencies, private industry, and non-government organisations are creating future opportunities that can be realised with appropriate government enablement and support. Research will need to address key issues, such as how to: scale up local livelihood success stories to the regional level; provide the underpinning science to support Indigenous entrepreneurship; empower Indigenous participation in major development initiatives; and identify ‘win-win’ outcomes that can achieve multiple objectives in natural and cultural resource management. Research also has an important role in enhancing the profile of Indigenous
cultural connections and traditions that underlie the community wellbeing necessary for successful economic development. CSIRO has a growing profile with the nation’s First Australians as a science provider, research partner, and employer, particularly in Northern Australia. Presented by an emerging group of CSIRO scientists, this presentation highlights current successes, key issues, and future possibilities.
Ms Alicia Boyle, Research Fellow, Northern Institute, Charles Darwin University Why do international students choose to study in the Northern Territory? The Northern Territory International Education and Training Strategy 2014-2024 provides a plan to strengthen the Territory’s position as a gateway between Australia and Asia through education. Investing in and growing the international education and training sector will have far reaching economic and social benefits. In 2014 1900 international students from 66 different countries chose to undertake study and research with Northern Territory institutions. Key findings will be presented from two projects recently completed by researchers from the Northern Institute at Charles Darwin University that provide some insights about why students choose the Northern Territory as a study destination and what elements of their experience affects their overall satisfaction. The presentation will highlight both the role and importance of the Northern Territory’s Multicultural Community and Organisations in supporting international students studying in the Northern Territory and articulate both the employment opportunities and experiences of international students and, the corresponding experiences of their employers. Drawing on the rich stories told by members of Darwin’s Multicultural Community Organisations, students and employers, a picture is emerging of what is working well and why and what can be done to improve the experience of international students studying in Darwin.
Dr Paul Brooks, General Manager, Networks & Technology, Trident Subsea Cable By Land Or By Sea - Subsea telecommunications cables in North-west Australia Telecommunications infrastructure is crucial to the social and economic development of northern Australia. Abundant telecommunications and Internet capability is required to enable cities, towns and communities to attract and retain families as permanent residents, and
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
SESSION ABSTRACTS enable remote workers to maintain social and family ties when living in camps and communities apart from their families. Industry, including resources and agriculture operations, rely on dependable and high capacity data communications for telemetry, automation and safety systems, as well as for commerce and developing markets for products and services. Northern Australia is the closest gateway to Asia, and world-class communications will be required for businesses and communities to effectively serve and profit from the economic growth of Asian nations. Traditional telecommunications infrastructure in regional and remote areas consists of radio systems - either terrestrial or satellite - linked by a small amount of high capacity optical fibre cables alongside major highways. Radio systems, and particularly satellite-based systems are relatively easy to deploy, but suffer from constrained bandwidth and reliability concerns. This paper describes a proposed domestic and international optical fibre infrastructure to be laid on the ocean floor that will bring competitive high capacity telecommunications infrastructure to the North-West of Australia for the first time, and link northern Australia directly to Asia. We also describe a world-leading telecommunications solution for the hundreds of offshore oil and gas platforms on the North West Shelf of Western Australia. This system of sea-floor optical fibre cables, deployed in other major resources regions globally, has improved safety and productivity of offshore platforms and island communities and eliminated the dependence on constrained satellite communications.
Ms Patrice Brown, Company Director, CQG Consulting Balancing environmental protection and development in Northern Australia Northern Australia is ideally poised on the doorstep of Asia presenting the opportunity for export of minerals, coal, gas, agricultural products and services. Our geological, cultural and ecological assets are well recognised globally attracting tourists to places such as Kakadu and the Great Barrier Reef which are listed as world heritage areas. Balancing the protection of the natural values with well-planned and sustainable development is pivotal to the future viability of Northern Australia. In recent years the opportunities to develop Northern Australia have been highlighted by government
policies and embraced by Australians. At the same time however we have been swamped with attention by international and Australian conservation groups and global competitors to place restrictions on port developments and operations, to reintroduce tougher vegetation legislation and for large tracts of land in Cape York to be listed for world heritage status. These groups have been very effective in their messaging, attracting significant funds and creating elevated chaotic responses by community groups and policy makers often in contrast to facts. These mixed messages of our mandate to develop Northern Australia versus the stymieing of developments such as mining, agriculture and port projects are confusing investors and hindering the economic growth of the region. This paper explores the ways in which we as Northern Australians could work together more smartly to ensure we manage the balance between the long term protection of the valuable environmental and cultural assets and development to ensure the viability of our nation’s future.
Professor Andrew Campbell, Director, Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University The North’s potential rests on natural capital As the title of this conference implies and as the White Paper on Developing Northern Australia attests, the north has enormous potential. That claim has echoed for more than a century, given that the first parliamentary inquiry into developing the north was held in 1912. However there are very good reasons why, after more than a century, the development of northern Australia has not gone as far or as fast as some would wish. Some of these have to do with the biophysical and climatic characteristics of northern Australia, others are socioeconomic and cultural. This presentation focuses on the natural capital of the north not framed (as it often is) as a constraint but rather as the ultimate underpinning wealth and selling point of the north. This is a very distinctive region, with few comparators globally. We need to understand that distinctiveness, unpack it, celebrate it and market it. Marketers distinguish between functional brand attributes (which can be articulated, quantified and imitated by competitors) and non-functional brand
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
SESSION ABSTRACTS attributes, which are intrinsic and much more difficult to copy or replicate. The vast and distinctive landscapes, ecosystems and natural resources of the north represent qualities that are of enormous value now and potentially into the far future. This presentation explores how we can best ensure that, in seeking to unlock the potential of the north, we can best maintain those qualities that underpin its distinctiveness and its ultimate value.
Mr Robert Carne, Senior Indigenous Policy Manager, Department of Primary Industry & Fisheries Social return on Indigenous fishing enterprises This presentation will explain the social (cultural), economical, environmental and political benefits of building Indigenous fishing business models. Over 84% of the Northern Territory coastline being owned by Indigenous Territorians, and the vast majority of Indigenous people are living in remote coastal communities. The majority of the Northern Territory population resides in metropolitan Darwin and surrounding suburbs. This means that the majority of businesses reside in Darwin, including those in the seafood industry. The majority of these businesses are needing to travel to remote parts of the NT to harvest seafood, away from major populations and competing fishing interests. In order to make a viable fishing business, fuel costs, human resource costs and social impacts of fishermen being away from home for weeks and months on end, all have to be considered. Indigenous Territorians living in remote coastal communities are vastly over represented in unemployment rates, so there is an obvious reason why Indigenous Territorians should be actively engaged in the seafood industry. How do we show non-Indigenous Australia the benefits of creating employment and self resilience opportunities for Indigenous Australians? Four Indigenous men living in a remote community go work, earn money, teach their children the concept of working for money, and, empower their wives to also go and find work. Eight Indigenous adults are no longer on welfare, can afford to pay their rent without needing tax payer assistance, their children go to school, get an education, learn to value work and get a job when they leave school. All of this whilst still maintaining connection to country, language and culture. Even if the fishing business only makes $1.00 per annum, there are
SESSION ABSTRACTS
eight adults no longer needing tax payer benefits. Social cohesion improves, cultural connection is maintained, economical wheels are still turning and political goals are scored.
Mr Michael Chappell, Managing Director, Pracsys
Clare Carroll, Chief Executive Officer, IBA Tourism Asset Management Pty Ltd
Dr John (Jack) Christopher, Senior Research Fellow, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI)
Growing Indigenous Tourism by improving assets and delivering compelling cultural experiences In light of mixed results across the Australian Indigenous tourism landscape, Indigenous Business Australia formed a wholly owned subsidiary company tasked with providing management services and a national Indigenous tourism brand. IBA Tourism Asset Management Pty Ltd (ITAM) began in October 2015 and has significant interest in developing Indigenous tourism in northern Australia with 60% of its current assets operating in the region. ITAM’s current assets include South Australia’s Wilpena Pound Resort, Ikara Luxury Safari Camp and Air Wilpena. In Queensland there is Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park and Minjerribah Camping and Holiday Inn Townsville while in the Northern Territory ITAM’s assets include Cooinda Lodge, Yellow River Cruises, Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel and Adina Vibe Darwin. As an asset-led organisation, ITAM sets out to enhance IBA Tourism Portfolio financial and operational performance; increase Indigenous employment, training and supply chain opportunities; create management structures providing economies of scale; create a viable corporate structure whose benefits are realised at the asset ownership level, and; create a profitable and diversified network of products and services that provides clients and customers with compelling cultural experiences. ITAM’s presentation explores some of the successes and challenges in implementing these goals at asset level and will provide a clear view for future success. With a national scope for developing Indigenous tourism, ITAM also reveals its desire to build on its strong presence in northern Australia, viewing it as a region of enormous potential for tourism growth. Improved infrastructure and international gateways in Darwin and Cairns means that its current assets in northern Australia will have an increased chance of higher visitation and growth with support being given by ITAM to harness these opportunities.
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
Integrated Futures – University working with Industry to solve industry problems
Can winter cereals be developed into a major industry for tropical Australia? Tropical Australian livestock industries provide a huge potential market for locally produced grain which would, for example, enable increased onshore beef cattle finishing for Asian markets, supplementary feeding of dairy cattle, and a local source of grain during poor grazing periods. Northern Queensland alone has vast areas of suitable soils, including over 10 million hectares of vertisols, often collocated with substantial, underutilised water resources. Field trials in northern inland and coastal Queensland were grown on a wide range of soils to determine adaptation, optimum sowing time and to monitor pests and diseases. Results indicate that hexaploid wheat, triticale and forage oats can all be successfully grown while barley and durum would require improved disease resistance. For wheat, CIMMYT derived varieties were the highest yielding, partly due to greater spot blotch resistance. Results also suggested that direct transfer of current southern Queensland cultivars may not provide the optimal solution. Early sowing dates from late April to mid-May were optimal, wheat yields often exceeding 5 tha-1. Peanut and maize parasitic nematode numbers declined where wheat was grown. Thus, wheat could fit well into rotations with peanuts, maize, soybean, potatoes, forage and grain sorghum, plus spring sown sugar cane. In the short term, further study to identify the most suitable current wheat lines and to optimize management would accelerate adoption of winter cereals. The latest breeding technologies, currently being developed at QAAFI, could be used to rapidly develop specifically adapted cultivars potentially underpinning a major feed grain industry for tropical Australia.
Mr Russell Claus, Executive Manager Regional Development, Rockhampton Regional Council The Critical Role of High Quality Education Options in Sustaining Regional Cities Regional Cities have always struggled to retain and attract talent. In a straight competition with the allure
of capital cities, most people, particularly in professional spheres, opt for capital over regional. Regional cities nevertheless offer most of the amenities and services that capital cities provide, and with less hassle and cost. How then do regional cities move the pendulum more in their favour re their attractiveness for employment and lifestyle? How can regional cities leverage their relative advantages to increase growth? One of the most critical decisions that families with options have to consider when contemplating living in a regional city is access to quality education. Many regional cities offer multiple high quality educational options from early childhood through tertiary, yet to what degree is the value of this asset understood and adequately promoted in pursuit of broader economic and community development initiatives? How easy is it for potential new residents to understand and evaluate alternatives within and between regions? The intent of this presentation is to explore the quality of information and messaging regarding education options and the extent to which this might be enhanced to support regional city growth objectives. The presentation further considers how valuable a quality education sector is to regional cities in growing and retaining local talent; underpinning local economic vitality, diversity and growth; and in attracting outside talent and needed skillsets to regional communities. The Emerging Role of Regional Cities in Economic Development The speaker will discuss the emerging role of regional cities as new leaders in economic development, outlining why this is (or should be) happening and why it’s important. As State and Commonwealth governments wrestle with increasing demand to address infrastructure shortfalls in the most densely populated areas, financial support for regional cities has begun to both diminish and become more difficult to secure (competitive grant processes). In response, regional local governments are increasingly realising their capacity and their effectiveness in supporting local economic growth, morphing beyond basic local government services into a more entrepreneurial approach to community and city building. Employing a much more fine grained knowledge of local challenges and opportunities, regional cities have the advantage of being able to understand where their application of scarce resources can reap the greatest benefit. With plenty of examples from communities that have been doing this a while, the shift to this new role is not that difficult technically. The biggest challenge is
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
SESSION ABSTRACTS cultural change (both public and private) and overcoming the inertia that stems from general resistance to change and operating outside comfort zones. This new world involves being creative, accepting greater risk, streamlining process, and engaging in genuine public private partnerships and joint ventures.
Mr Matt Coetzee, Manager Australian and New Zealand Offices, Aurecon Why would you NOT invest in the Australian agriculture sector? The potential of the agricultural sector in Australia is now well recognised. That potential is underpinned by a growing market demand, primarily in countries to our north, and a brand reputation for a high quality and safe product. That potential is further reflected in the results of a recent Deloitte Access Economics study which concluded that the one year average return for a basket of Australian agribusiness stocks was 66.9%, against the S&P ASX 300 return of negative 0.2% (on an admittedly low volume). To the outsider it may therefore seem surprising that there is relatively little investment going into the sector. One reflection of that is a recent University of Queensland and BDO study which showed that only 0.3% of the investable funds out of a representative basket of Australian superannuation funds, is currently being invested in the agriculture sector. The question is, why? This paper will explore the question, referencing the unique characteristics of the farming environment in Australia, the relative investor attractiveness of the market and the importance of infrastructure in ensuring that products can get to markets efficiently. Noting these factors and drivers, a number of suggestions will be made as to how these could be addressed.
Matthew Cooke, CEO, QAIHC Strengthening Partnerships between ACHOs and PHNs The Australian Government has established that the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is a priority for the newly established 31 Primary Health Networks (PHNs). Efforts to reduce the high hospitalisation rates of Aboriginal people will require PHNs to build formal participatory structures with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled health organisations to support best practice service models. The Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC) and the Western
Queensland Primary Health Network (WQPHNN), through their membership, are leading the way through transformational and collective leadership at state, regional and local levels. This has facilitated an environment for shared understanding of the role of PHNs’ and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Health Sector within the Australian Health Care architecture.
Mr Tony Cox, Director, CLOUSTON Associates Lifestyle communities - development initiatives needed to attract and retain workers and families Northern Australia has always had difficulties in attracting and retaining workers, and their families. There is a long history of ‘being posted’ to the north. Often it revolves around a work opportunity which can translate into short term residencies and the constant churn. What are the other values important to the skilled and talented people we need that will turn them into long-term contributors? What is important to the young and the old
SESSION ABSTRACTS Conservation economy opportunities in Northern Australia Community demands for ecological protection and restoration and social justice, and Indigenous people’s desire to derive income from their traditional lands have driven the CE. Under CE principles, payment should be restricted to activities “beyond reasonable expectations that provide public rather than private benefit. Production systems should be sustainable and profitable, with producers bearing management costs. High biodiversity values make Indigenous land attractive for CE investment incorporating social justice goals.
Lifestyle and liveability are key areas of concern and increasingly valued by the workforce. Liveable communities must provide much more than just employment. From our experience in urban design, landscape planning and design throughout Australia, the tropics and Middle East, we will demonstrate the important role of a quality public domain (streets, parks, plazas, open space) in enhancing lifestyle and liveability.
CE investment in northern Australia comes from governments and NGOs, facilitated by NRM groups. Governments also regulate duty-of-care principles for weed, pest, vegetation and water quality management; and provide extension programs and structural adjustment loans to support sustainable practice adoption. The Australian Government invests in Indigenous cultural and natural resource management (CNRM) and emission reduction at reasonable levels. Otherwise, its NRM investment has declined over recent years, disproportionately so in northern Australia. Meeting Australia’s international biodiversity conservation and social justice obligations has replaced bottom-up NRM priorities. State Governments grants and assistance have also declined. NGO investment also prioritises Indigenous CNRM.
National and international debate is focussing on ‘new world cities’ and what contributes to a thriving urban city. While our northern cities are not yet on the world stage, planning and design that supports social activity, commercial enterprise, diverse and clustered businesses, global connection and local sustainability will be part of the answer.
Indigenous rangers are paid to protect cultural heritage, sustain Traditional Knowledge, manage weeds, fire and feral animals, and manage and monitor biodiversity; and for biosecurity surveillance, marine debris collection and emission abatement. Grants have enabled Indigenous Protected Areas to increase to one-third of Australia’s national reserve system.
The quality of our cities and the public spaces within them will be as important in attracting and retaining people as the employment opportunities. In the north, we have the opportunity to build on our unique natural attractions, a cultural diversity that stretches back thousands of years and a relatively constrained extent of development within a pristine environment. While we are ‘developing the north’ we must ensure we ‘celebrate the north’ and create a living and working community where people choose to come and stay.
A small percentage of pastoralists have entered into subsidized biodiversity conservation agreements. However, focus is shifting to adopting best practice herd management to reduce grazing pressure and improve land condition. Inherent profitability of these practices makes stewardship payments unnecessary. However, they can produce income from emission reduction, and extension programs and structural adjustment loans are available to assist the necessary transition.
Dr Allan Dale, Professor of Tropical Regional Development, James Cook University
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
Mr John Davidson, CEO, Energy Made Clean The need for energy innovation to power the grid-less Northern Australia Of recent times there have been a number of major technology breakthroughs in battery chemistries, control systems, power electronics and monitoring enabling innovative alternatives to costly fossil fuel alternatives. These innovations mean that there are now bankable long term solutions for getting power into remote tourism, agriculture, mining, water pumping and the development projects in Northern Australia. A number of relevant projects have recently been successfully completed using these new innovations with very good results and the learnings of some of these projects will be discussed in order to be able to demonstrate road map showing how these technologies could be used to provide low cost, reliable energy for a multitude of different project needs through Northern Australia. Some of the relevant case studies to be discussed will include, CSIRO’s 1.6MW/2.4MWH solar lithium power station at the ASKAP in the Murchison, Thevenard Island 624kW/320KWH solar lithium power station, Minderoo Stations solar water pumping program and others.
Michael Kitzelmann, Chief Executive Officer, Etheridge Shire The Future of Development Etheridge Shire known as the Golden Heart of the Gulf, is currently undergoing significant economic growth. The land surrounding the Gilbert River is incredibly fertile and has been ear marked for large scale irrigated and dry land agriculture as demonstrated in the CSIRO report, “Agricultural Assessment for the Gilbert Catchment.” Although challenges to development include land tenure, environmental approvals and water allocations, the resilience and determination of people within the shire will see these projects to fruition. Alongside this opportunity, Etheridge is backing 275MW of renewable energy projects that will keep the shire carbon neutral. Etheridge’s vision is to balance economic growth, social development, environmental sustainability and cultural preservation to shape sustainable progress in the future. Etheridge Shire Council is representing the Gilbert River Agricultural Project, Gulf Cattleman’s Association, Infigen, Genex and Strathmore.
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
SESSION ABSTRACTS Mr Andrew Dingjan, Director, AURIN Urban design, informatics and analytics – new tools for creating visionary cities in Northern Australia’s future The decisions we make today will determine how our regional centres and cities are perceived in ten, twenty, and a hundred years hence. We can plan our cities better if we can use all of the information that’s available from governments, researchers, businesses and other organisations – information about where people live and work, now and into the future, the transport and infrastructure available, what the local weather is like and how areas of cultural, social and economic activity are changing. The city is only a part of the economic, social and political entity, which constitutes the region. Sustainable development and design of these regions, their regional centres and cities is based on an understanding of the current configuration of that region and even macro geo-political factors. Urban design aims to develop processes and not final products. This requires designers and stakeholders to interrogate a myriad of datasets of an even larger environment to understand and shape the development trajectory. Each dataset only provides a single point and the task of the urban designer is to weight the importance of that data through crossreferencing with other information. This is extremely challenging in areas with low population density and fragmented infrastructure such as the Australian north. The combination of AURIN capabilities, creative urban design and detailed data sets has allowed University of Melbourne academics and students to both grasp the extent and impact of design in creating visionary and globally relevant Northern Australia regional centres and cities.
based on taking a strategic network-wide approach, over 18 years, over 1.4 million km2 (19% of Australia; 82% of Queensland) with 47 funding partners and many more stakeholders. The IQ-RAP will deliver jobs, improve productivity for existing industries, enhance competitiveness of exporters, support new private sector investment and improve resilience and connectivity for the delivery of goods and services to communities. The IQ-RAP was publicly launched in Charters Towers in February 2016. The vision for the IQ-RAP is to increase the quality and accessibility of the road network to maximise the economic prosperity of inland Queensland, thereby contributing to Australia’s productivity, quality of life, safety and equity outcomes. The IQ-RAP area is an economic powerhouse with the resources and energy, agriculture and tourism industries contributing significantly to export income and national Gross Domestic Product. The IQ-RAP was developed using established roads planning and prioritisation methodology including the use of multi criteria analysis that reviewed Economic Value, Safety, Strategic Intent, Access and Social value. The plan reviewed a total of 16,000 km of strategic road network and identifies and prioritises 3,000 km of roads and 300 bridges that require upgrading to fit for purpose standards over the next 18 years.
Professor Michael Douglas, Hub Leader, NESP Northern Australia Environmental Resources Hub Water resources in northern Australia: Science, security and sustainability
Mr David Donohue Inland Queensland Roads Action Plan (IQ-RAP) - a regional development initiative The RDA Townsville and North West Queensland Committee initiated the concept of an inland roads action plan in late 2013. IQ-RAP is now a bipartisan project funded by 33 local governments, 8 Regional Roads and Transport Groups, 4 RDA Committees, the NQ RDA Alliance and RACQ to drive economic development across regional Queensland. This plan is innovative as the first of its kind in Australia
The Northern Australia White Paper’s Top Actions included the need to invest in infrastructure tied to developing secure and tradable water rights. Significant funds ($15m) have been allocated to determine available water in three priority regions across northern Australia. Putting a more reliable figure on the quantity of water in our rivers and groundwater systems is a critical part of determining water availability. However, long-term security of water for agriculture will be achieved when the industry has a clear social license to operate and water allocations are uncontested. The secure water available for agriculture is the total amount of water available minus the water that is required by other users, such as
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
SESSION ABSTRACTS the environment and other primary industries such as fisheries. In other regions, failure to recognise the needs of other water users has had significant negative impacts on long-term water security for agriculture. There is an opportunity to do better in northern Australia and science has a critical role to play in helping to determine the water requirements for other users so that the trade-offs can be understood and negotiated. The past decade has seen significant investment by governments to increase our basic understanding of the water needs of other users. This talk will outline a new program of research being done by the National Environmental Science Program’s Northern Australia Environmental Resources Hub which will significantly improve our capacity to determine the water requirements of the environment, fisheries and Indigenous people. Such information is vital for ensuring that water resources in northern Australia are secured for all water users and that agriculture is sustainable in the long-term.
are such the addition of Defence assets presents added complexities, including in the areas of security and safety. These complexities have made the management of day to day commercial operations significantly more difficult and placed restrictions on general aviation activities and opportunities, the Airport’s bread and butter. When Defence assesses its needs to increase the level of security, the capacity to do so is made much more difficult without impacting commercial users. The exclusive Defence precinct, which will be 500m to the south of the existing terminal, is designed to cater for up to six large transport aircraft, eight fighters and 20 helicopters.
Ms Catherine Duncan, Director, AsiaAus Leaders Pty Ltd
The proposed Defence precinct ties in with the Australian Government’s recently released Defence White Paper. It may provide an early example of the upgrading of training facilities through co-development with other countries (United States and Singapore).
From Knowledge to Wisdom: Fast-tracking Emerging Leaders
Dr Gary Fitt, Science Director, CSIRO Health and Biosecurity
University study and formal training provides much needed knowledge and a professional perspective. It takes time, however, to apply that knowledge in adaptive ways, and wisely. In today’s fast-paced world the luxury of time needed to acquire that wisdom no longer exists. What can be done to fast-track the getting of wisdom to unleash the North’s potential?
Australia’s Biosecurity Future Implications for Northern Australia
Councillor Neil Fisher, Rockhampton Region Council Proposed development of a Defence precinct at the Rockhampton Airport Rockhampton Regional Council (RRC) is the owner/ operator of the Rockhampton Airport which provides significant services to the Australian, United States and Singapore Defence Forces, especially when using the Shoalwater Bay Training Area, 65km north of Rockhampton. Council wishes to create a purpose designed and built Defence precinct at the Airport for use by the various military forces. During exercises the Airport’s general aviation area is currently used at the same time by both commercial and military operators. The nature of day to day operations
Biosecurity is critical to the sustainable development of northern Australia. While there is much focus on the development potential in terms of resource development, agricultural diversification and population growth in support of northern Australia’s role as a gateway to Asia, we need to remember that northern Australia is particularly vulnerable to pests and diseases that could enter through natural or unregulated pathways as well as through the increasing regulated pathways reflected by growing frequency of shipping and trade through northern ports. Biosecurity threats in northern Australia can be considered under two banners: • As direct risks to northern environments, communities or the productivity and sustainability of new and existing primary industries The introduction of sugar cane smut to the Ord River sugar industry in 1998 is a clear example. • Using northern environments or agricultural systems as a bridging environment to enter, establish and spread to have more severe consequences in established agricultural systems in southern Australia.
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
SESSION ABSTRACTS These threats to both terrestrial and aquatic industry development call for Biosecurity issues to be explicitly considered in any assessment and planning for future agricultural development in the north, not as a potential deal breaker, but to highlight the need to build Biosecurity surveillance and mitigation responses into future developments in order to protect the substantial investments required. Biosecurity is thus integrated with production planning and system implementation, rather than an afterthought. We have a unique opportunity now to achieve the pre-emptive inclusion of Biosecurity planning into future development based on new technologies in smart surveillance and rapid response to biosecurity threats which can see Biosecurity as an enabler of northern development, not simply a suite of risks.
Dr Alison Gaines, General Manager, Gerard Daniels Professional Workforce Challenges for Northern Australia The development of Northern Australia has been flagged as one of the major cornerstones for the future economic development of Australia. This region comprises the Northern Territory, Far North Queensland and the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Unlike other parts of Australia these regions have particular characteristics which will bring unique challenges to the sustainable economic development of this region and the people leading these various initiatives. Apart from the geographical distance from other major centres in Australia, these regions have unique climactic conditions, which are often cited as the key reason for people wanting to leave these regions. Other traits that will also contribute to the development challenge, and provide exciting opportunities, is that the local working populations are typically characterised as living in remote communities, containing higher proportions of Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islanders than the rest of Australia and also significantly high levels of employees who have migrated from overseas or other parts of Australia. Unemployment rates, especially youth unemployment, are known to be higher than other parts of Australia. This creates a high level of cultural complexity for leaders of their workforces and requires certain types of leadership competencies. Another key challenge that has been clearly documented in these regions is the challenge of attracting and creating quality leadership. This includes executive
and management leadership and board governance leadership. The quality of leadership can also act as a barrier to external investment in these regions. Access to on-going professional development can be daunting, although technological disruption is offering solutions for remote leaders. The attraction and retention of highly skilled directors, professionals and managers will be key to sustainable economic development in these regions and this presentation will highlight some critical considerations in the styles of leadership, and for the attraction, development and retention of the future leaders in this part of the world.
Dr Richard George, Principal Research Scientist, Department of Agriculture and Food Land and water investigations and targeted capital investment underpin economic growth for Northern development The Department of Agriculture and Food (DAFWA) is finalising four years and $40m of capital works and irrigation assessment in north Western Australia. This work is part of the States goal of doubling irrigated agriculture by 2025. To achieve this we identified over 110,000 ha of capable land with suitable water in developments zones. The most prospective areas in the East and West Kimberley, Pilbara and Gascoyne were chosen for works. These ranged from supporting development with targeted land and water investigations to investing $25m in specified capital works.
Iain Gordon, Deputy Vice Chancellor Tropical Environments & Societies, James Cook University Aquaculture – realising the potential economic development powerhouse for the North Seafood (including fish, crustaceans, molluscs and algae) is an important and significant contributor to humanity’s global protein demands. Currently, ~50% of global seafood is derived from aquaculture in an industry worth US$144B and exhibiting an annualised productivity growth of 8.8%. SE Asia dominates this production, with Australia contributing less than 1% of global volume. A small proportion of this currently comes from Northern Australia - mainly prawns and barramundi destined for domestic markets, as well as some very high value nonedible products (e.g. pearls and crocodile skins). Nevertheless most of the prawns and barramundi
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
SESSION ABSTRACTS consumed in Australia are imported.
Manager, TAFENSW Riverina Institute
Historically, the aquaculture industry in Northern Australia has suffered from debilitating environmental legislation and a lack of finance, improved breeding stock and skilled workforce. This is changing! The Northern Australia aquaculture industry now sits on the cusp of significant growth that could bring real benefit flow including long-term skilled jobs to many rural and remote coastal communities across the region.
Mr Steve Forbes Taber, Quality Leader, TAFENSW Riverina Institute
Producing quality, safe, cost-effective farmed seafood without depleting natural resources or damaging the coastal environment is the global challenge. In Northern Australia our proximity to Asian markets and recent Free Trade Agreements; access to significant areas of land and coastal waters for expansion; leading tropical aquaculture research capacity; reputation for premium safe food products; and increasingly sustainable environmental footprint of aquaculture facilities positions the North to begin to realise significant market opportunities, both domestically and overseas. Coordinated brokerage across academic, industry and policy stakeholders which maximises collaborative strengths, along with a whole of system approach to the northern expansion of aquaculture is essential to realise its potential. This approach will provide the foundations to power up aquaculture in the region through coordinated policy and planning, protection and promotion of premium product value, improved biosecurity management, future workforce development, training, and industry-driven research.
Ms Karen Green, Business Advisory Lead Partner, Deloitte Driving Investment Decisions The presentation will discuss the key factors which help drive investment decisions. In the presentation, we will consider the key aspects and elements that ultimately influence the investment decision making process. In particular, this will involve a consideration into a range of appropriate economic, financial, and social development factors.
Evaluation of Key Outcomes and the Influence of Pedagogical Practice on successful Indigenous Training and Employment programs 2013-2015 The Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Education Policy identified Aboriginal students’ social and economic disadvantage as key factors leading to their educational disadvantage. The report concluded that the relationships between the causal factors affecting educational outcomes for Aboriginal students are complex in scope, dynamic in nature and challenge existing power structures within schools, TAFE campuses and the bureaucracy. (1) (National Report 1991) Investments in education for Aboriginal people are particularly important as they often result in positive impacts directly or indirectly on key areas of disadvantage: unemployment, incomes, health and crime. This paper has been developed with the intention of determining the factors that influenced decisions on pedagogical practice by TAFENSW Riverina Institute (RI) teachers in indigenous training programs and examines the lens through which these teachers viewed their activities. The paper also addresses the influencers and drivers of successful engagement with Indigenous student cohorts and provides significant insight through a range of evaluations and feedback loops, to demonstrate what differentiates some programs as best practice by the participants and ultimately by their employers.
Mr Rob Hall, Economist, .id consulting Ms Carley Scott, Chief Executive Officer, Developing East Arnhem Limited A new DEAL - the value of regional data
Mr Russell Gueho, Manager Education and Training, TAFENSW Riverina Institute
Developing East Arnhem Limited (DEAL) is harnessing the power of local economic and population data to build compelling business cases for local investment and grant funding.
Ms Kerry Footman, Workforce Development
CEO, Carley Scott will use local examples to illustrate
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
SESSION ABSTRACTS how DEAL effectively builds solid cases for local projects, identifying trends and focusing on areas of opportunity for potential economic growth. She will present the 5 key factors she has found essential for ANY grant submission or investment attraction strategy to succeed. Rob Hall, .id’s resident economist will explain how public access to accurate, regional data is helping to put East Arnhem on the map for investors. Both Carley and Rob will show real case studies to show how local economies need to diversify and innovate to survive in a rapidly changing landscape.
Mr Michael Hall, Executive Officer, Australian Council for Private Education and Training (ACPET) Creating a regional hub for vocational education and training in the Top End A brief overview of VET and growing a sustainable workforce, a need for a diverse range of responsive training providers and a focus on emerging industries including agua/agriuculture, tourism, resource related, care services (welfare, aged, disability, child care. Opportunities for increasing international student enrollments in the Top End and partnerships with our Asian counterparts, deliver offshore or to offer student ‘twining’. The Top End is well positioned by location, culture, proximity and time zone comparability to attract international students.
Dr David Hansen, CEO, Australian e-Health Research Centre, CSIRO Digital Health: Enabling Equity of Access and Community Development in Northern Australia New paradigms of health service delivery are enabling rural and remote Australians to have equity of access to services, leading to improved health outcomes. The technologies enabling this shift in service delivery include electronic health records and the use of mobile and telehealth. However this paradigm shift must be underpinned by research that demonstrates the benefits to patients and the community and explores opportunities for community growth and development. CSIRO has undertaken a number of trials that demonstrate the benefits of these digital health approaches and their ability to enhance health service delivery in Northern Australia.
In 2013, CSIRO trialed a tele-ophthalmology service to the Torres Strait using the NBN interim satellite service. This service enabled nurses to use a portable camera to take retinal photos that were then uploaded for reading by an ophthalmologist in Brisbane. The trial demonstrated several benefits including early identification of disease and reduced need for patient travel. Home-based tele-health is another paradigm that is changing how chronically ill patients receive services. CSIRO led a national trial, including a Townsville site, of tele-health for chronically ill patients. This trial demonstrated an overall increase in wellness for patients receiving the tele-health intervention compared to a control group. Another new paradigm is mobile health service delivery. Rehabilitation programs are effective at reducing incidence of second heart attacks, but greatly underutilized. In 2012 CSIRO and Queensland Health trialed a mobile phone-based cardiac rehabilitation program which demonstrated increased uptake and adherence. CSIRO is working with Indigenous health organisations to tailor this approach for Indigenous communities. The future will see health services provided through mobile delivery and tele-health across Australia. Northern Australia has the opportunity to lead this revolution while facilitating increased community capability and growth.
Professor Robert Henry, Director, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation New and Old Crops for Northern Australia Development of agriculture in northern Australia requires the identification of crops that are suited to efficient and sustainable production in the available environments and that will attract a high price in accessible markets. Establishment of successful agricultural enterprises in the north requires the combination of competitive crop varieties, production systems and processing. The options for consideration include completely new crops, new versions of old crops and a few that might already be suited to the northern Australian environment. Rice is a good example of all of this with the potential to produce a wide range of products from local indigenous Australian species to new high quality locally adapted Asian rice. Similar diverse options are available for different types of sugarcane, legumes and horticultural species. Modern technologies facilitate the rapid development of crops adapted to specific environments and with special market
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
SESSION ABSTRACTS attributes. Examples of recent advances in these crops will be discussed.
Dr Andrew Higgins, Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO Transport Network Strategic Investment Tool (TraNSIT) - application to $100 million Northern Australia Beef Roads Programme and other agriculture Agriculture supply chains, particularly in Northern Australia are often characterised by transport distances of over 1000km between production and markets, with transport costs accounting for up to 40% of the market price. Infrastructure investment and regulatory changes can substantially reduce logistics costs across agricultural enterprises. Understanding what those may mean to supply chain flows and transport costs across all enterprises will be critical to optimising value from the investment options available. To provide a holistic view of transport logistics costs and benefits due to infrastructure investments and policy changes in agriculture supply chains, CSIRO developed a Transport Network Strategic Investment Tool (TraNSIT). TraNSIT optimises transport routes for tens of thousands of enterprises and hundreds of thousands of vehicle trips between them and their markets, providing input into operational and investment decisions. It incorporates factors such as road/rail conditions, heavy vehicle access restrictions, vehicle choice, driver fatigue and animal welfare regulations and availability of supporting facilities such as vehicle stops and holding yards. It can be used to manage logistics costs for individual enterprises or whole industries. As part of the implementation of the Northern Australia White Paper, CSIRO has applied TraNSIT to inform the $100 million Northern Australia Beef Roads Programme. It has evaluated the transport savings for 60 road upgrade submissions, where the total construction cost of these upgrades exceeded $3 billion. We will outline the application of TranSIT to the Beef Roads Programme, including key findings and next steps. CSIRO is extending TraNSIT to broader Australian agriculture as an initiative of the Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper. It will include over 95 per cent of Australia’s agriculture and horticulture transport volume, including current and future production scenarios. We will provide an update of this initiative, and its value for infrastructure investment in the north.
Dr Peter Hofman, Team leader, Supply Chain
Innovations, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Diminishing distance: How keeping in touch with your product can deliver premium quality from the north Horticulture in northern Australia contributes more than $2 billion to the Australian economy. Most of these products are highly perishable. Their quality and value can deteriorate within just days from harvest, especially in the absence of best practice temperature management. Typically, 2-4 days road transport is required to move product from northern production regions to southern markets. Moreover, another 5-7 days from market to the consumer! Given the perishability of horticultural produce, stringent temperature management from farm to retail is critical to maximising returns from northern Australian horticulture. Monitoring of commercial mango consignments out of northern Australia over the last 6 years established that dramatically inadequate temperature management practices on farm and during transport frequently resulted in loss in quality and value. Fruit temperatures on arrival often exceed 25°C, which is well above the recommended mango fruit transport temperature range of 12-14°C. Unfortunately, there is little or no evidence of recent improvements in cold chain efficiency. In addition to the cold chain management issue, the distance from northern Australia to southern markets could offer a totally unrealised opportunity. A number of important fruit commodities, including mangoes, require ripening after harvest. Current mango recommendations include cooling on farm to 12-14°C, transporting at these temperatures to prevent premature ripening, then ripening at market at about 20°C. However, triggering ripening with ethylene applied during transport at 18°C could significantly reduce both on-farm and in-market infrastructure and energy costs as well as reducing energy costs during transport. However, accurate and reliable temperature management during transport will be critical. A coordinated collaborative northern Australian initiative involving growers and packers, transport suppliers and refrigeration specialists, marketers, R&D providers, government agencies, policymakers and others is urgently needed to improve the integrity of cool chain road/rail freight of perishable horticulture produce from northern Australia. Supply chain stakeholders from growers in the north to consumers in the south would benefit through minimised losses in fresh produce quality and value. Practice change and improvement in this regard would also enhance the prospects for selling northern Australian produce internationally.
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
SESSION ABSTRACTS Dr Cameron Huddlestone-Holmes, Senior Research Scientist, CSIRO Energy Options for Northern Australia The development of Northern Australia will require the development of energy infrastructure that meets the unique challenges of the region. The energy market in this region is complex with connections to the National Electricity Market in Queensland, isolated grids in the Northern Territory and Western Australia as well as isolated communities, mining operations and outstations. Northern Australia is also blessed with abundant energy resources. This paper explores a number of scenarios for the provision of Energy in Northern Australia.
Andrew Jones, President, Australian Industry and Defence Network NT Defence the Customer & Industry the Supplier Andrew will address: • Defence contacts and how defence must achieve the best result. • Problems with past Defence contacts. • nvesting in local industry to achieve a rewarding result and best outcome for all Australians.
Mr Hamish Jolly, Program Leader North West Australia, Australian Institute of Marine Science Sustainable Development of the North’s Blue Economy - How Understanding Our Environmental Assets Can Streamline Investment Northern Australia is resource rich and uniquely positioned for growth, supporting existing and potential future expansion of the agriculture, fishing, aquaculture, tourism, subsea mining and oil and gas industries. Existing, and likely new and expanding ports will facilitate trade critical to the economic growth of these sectors. The North is also home to Australia’s iconic coral reef and mangrove systems, major fisheries, a multibillion-dollar tourism industry and a wealth of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage values dating back more than 60,000 years. Therefore, any future development of the North will require careful assessment of costs and benefits; social,
economic and environmental sustainability; risks of conflict; and unintended social and environmental consequences. Major capital investment flows more easily where there is greater certainty, and certainty comes from clarity in regulation, compliance and an understanding of the receiving environment for any new development. Fit-for-purpose baseline data describing the environmental and cultural assets are critical for assessing the viability of potential development opportunities and to improve confidence in decision making by investors, regulators and governments - both of which are required to unlock and lower the cost of private and public investment in northern Australia. In this presentation Hamish Jolly, North West Australia Program Leader for the Australian Institute of Marine Science - Australia’s tropical marine research agency, will articulate the importance of understanding the NT land/ sea interface so as to make informed decisions about sustainable development of coastal and marine resources in the development of the North’s blue economy.
Mr David Kaesehagen, Managing Director, Ecoscape Australia Pty Ltd The New North In 2013 an international design competition, CAPITheticAL, awarded first prize and a commendation to two entries that focussed on the development of Northern Australia. The CAPITheticAL brief asked entrants to design, a hypothetical national capital city for Australia. The winning entry (Ecoscape, WA) propose a sister capital to Canberra based on the shores of Lake Argyle. The commended entry, also from Western Australia, proposed three mega regions to meet an expected population in Australia of 65million at the turn of this century. One of the mega regions was called the New North which stretched from Darwin to Lake Argyle in Western Australia. This paper looks at these two ideas as a basis for consolidating and capitalising on the growth of the new north region to a population of 5 million. Where would these people go, what jobs would be available, what is the spatial distribution of such a population, what would be the likely transport networks, trade and tourism opportunities, and infrastructure development to support such a growth? Ecoscape has undertaken a broad spatial analysis of
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
SESSION ABSTRACTS the New North to highlight the potential opportunities and constraints of developing the region. Do we blindly hope for the development of northern Australia or do we provide a pathway for development based on logical process? We believe the two winning ideas in the CAPITheticAL competition provide a glimpse of a development scenario which could change the landscape of the region between Darwin and Lake Argyle the New North.
Mrs Helen Lewis, General Manager, Outback Highway Development Council
Mr Mike Kalms, Defence Industry Lead Partner, KPMG
Enabling Infrastructure & Investment needs enabling policy
Innovation and Infrastructure: What the 2016 Defence White Paper means for Industry in Northern Australia
The Outback Way traverses over 1/2 the continent from east to west for 2800km collaborating with & crossing 7 local government boundaries and 3 state jurisdictions and the federal government. The Outback Way is being upgraded and opens up enormous economic development, tourism, ag industry, mining and service delivery opportunities in some of the most rural and remote areas of Australia. The Outback Way is enabling infrastructure for Northern Australia, and as a case study it highlights the need for enabling policy, particularly cross border. For genuine development and investment in Northern Australia we must develop a ‘Whole of the North’s approach, creating a policy framework that streamlines policy across Northern Australia. From different to collaborative, from expensive to efficient, from parochial to global, from hard to easy- delivering an open and attractive investment platform. In addition, as acknowledged by Infrastructure Australia in the Northern Australia Infrastructure Audit Report -the assessment of a vast majority of projects in Northern Australia needs to be broader than a cost benefit analysis in isolation, as the benefits for most projects are beyond economic. The development of a cost effectiveness assessment is paramount to the success of investment and impact projects will deliver for Northern Australia.
The 2016 Defence White Paper, and accompanying Integrated Investment Program and Defence Industry Policy Statement, represents a significant re-design of the relationship between Defence and industry. In order to realise the full benefits available, industry will need to be innovative, collaborative and internationally focused. The White Paper recognises the key strategic importance of Northern Australia and reaffirms Government’s commitment to a strong, active Defence presence in the north. This is reflected in the Integrated Investment Program, which includes a significant investment in Northern Australian Defence infrastructure and capability. This presentation will discuss how Defence industry, particularly small-to-medium enterprises in northern Australia, can grow their capability and capacity to work with Defence in delivering against the White Paper.
Mr John Lever, Manager, Koorana Crocodile Farm Crocs across the top NT has managed its wild population of crocodiles and the associated crocodile skin industry successfully for many years. Crocodile farming has grown to be a major export earner and employer. Conservation through commerce gives landowners a financial incentive to have more crocs on their land so that they can sell more eggs (about $1000 per nest). But why does a man-made boundary betweeen NT and Qld and WA result in differing policies. No eggs are permitted for collection in either Qld or WA. Crocodiles are widespread across the top and the eggs are a very valuable resource owned by and large by aboriginal communities. 90000 eggs are permitted for collection in NT and landowners get the financial benefits.
Landowners in Qld and WA watch their potentially high value egg resource become inundated by seasonal monsoon rainfall or predated and end up worthless. No conservation or commercial value at all. A uniform legislative approach is required.
The Outback Way is a prime case study for both cross border policy and cost effective assessment, results from the Outback Way cross border review will highlight areas that are innovative and areas for streamlining.The development of unique frameworks for both policy and assessment for Northern Australia projects need to be developed and engaged in to progress the development of Northern Australia and similar proposals nationwide.
Mr Toby Lodge, Principal, HASSELL Australia’s cities of tomorrow: Light rail as an agent for change Hundreds of cities around the world have adopted light
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
SESSION ABSTRACTS rail as part of an integrated transport system. These are cities with foresight - they have grasped the opportunity pursue smarter growth and established transport systems that actively contribute to a higher performing economy with more lively, inviting and accessible places. For the cities of Northern Australia to reach their full potential, public transport will emerge as a critical ingredient. To successfully translate a city’s transport investment into greater liveability and economic competitiveness, a holistic view is needed that looks beyond traditional approaches to managing congestion and planning for growth. Light rail is a proven performer for small and medium sized cities. It’s capacity to move large volumes of people is combined with transformative city shaping potential and the ability to improve the urban environment, stimulate investment, boost property values and support more sustainable travel options. Drawing on experience from the design and planning of light rail systems on the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Canberra, the presentation will explore the how traditional approaches to transport and land use planning are being challenged to realise more liveable, sustainable and higher performing cities. It will explore the activities being undertaken in these cities in concert with the planning and delivery of light rail to maximise public benefit and unlock a future rich in potential.
Dr Judith Lovell, Senior Research Fellow, Northern Institute, Charles Darwin University and the Cooperative Research Centre for Remote Economics Key factors in the attraction and retention of local staff in remote Northern Australian regions Despite significant policy and program prioritisation and public intervention directed towards the employment of local residents in remote Aboriginal communities, expected changes have not been achieved in many parts of Northern Australia. Across sectors (public and private) some key factors, models and opportunities emerge concerning local employment, and with them an appetite for cross-sectorial communication on challenges and opportunities. The attraction and retention of migratory professionals in marginalised and remote settlements is increasingly well defined in national and international literature but there are specific distinctions between those scenarios and the key factors effecting local remote staff. Where local staff employment is largely shaped by actions and expectations through public policy, program design, and skills and training pathways in many
service related sectors, there are also pockets of market engagement, where opportunities are generated by aspirations, strategic planning, and responsive capacity to adapt from local to global markets. This overview of multi-sector remote employment of local remote staff highlights some of the models of employment which have emerged through case studies drawn from employers, locations and sectors across the Northern Australian region. Identifying some of the key factors in the attraction and retention of local staff in remote areas is a topic of interest to the synthesis and integration of research for the Cooperative Research Centre for Remote Economic Participation (CRC-REP) managed by Ninti One.
Bronte Martin, Nursing Director (Trauma & Disaster), National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre - Equipped, Prepared, Ready.....building integrated Disaster preparedness, capacity and resilience in the North The most well-known example of northern Australian leadership of a national initiative is the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre (NCCTRC) based in Darwin, Australia. Funded by the Commonwealth Government, the NCCTRC provides clinical and academic leadership in disaster and trauma care, as well as a local response capability and an international education, training and exercising capability. It also undertakes state of the art research into disaster response and the improvement of performance in first responders. The NCCTRC is uniquely positioned in a geo-politically significant area in close proximity to South East Asia. The unique location of the NCCTRC in northern Australia enables a pre-positioned rapid response to effectively deliver Australia’s diverse health emergency and medical response capability into regions most likely to be affected by sudden onset disasters. The position in northern Australia ensures rapid capability to respond to major onshore and offshore incidents in Australia and South East Asia. We are strategically positioned in close proximity to Southeast Asia to ensure a rapid capability to regions most likely to experience disasters and an ideal location to network and actively build strong relationships with Australia’s key international and institutional partners
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
SESSION ABSTRACTS and our neighbours. The NCCTRC focuses on preparing personnel for overseas deployment and on enhancing the capacity of clinicians in the Top End to manage local emergencies.
Sharon McGregor, Manager, Research Grants and Business Development, Charles Darwin University Ms Lorraine Sushames, Contracts Manager/ Lecturer, Charles Darwin University Sponsored International Education Programs – more than an “off the shelf” training package As indicated in the Northern Territory International Education and Training Strategy 2014-2024, education is integral to the Northern Territory’s connection with the region. It can provide social and economic benefits both here and abroad. Our presentation focuses on our work with Timor Leste and reflects on a sponsored initiative designed to develop the capability of individuals to be trained effectively for employment within a globalised environment. Programs that are industry sponsored often require educational institutions to respond in a different manner to their normal day to day business. It becomes a question not of what we offer, but rather, what do they need. It is not simply a matter of looking at a standard qualification and offering that, but instead, assessing what skills are required for international participants to flourish in a specific industry environment and then customising a package that provides a holistic experience. The challenge is to design programs that work within contractual and time constraints and yet provide sustainable outcomes for both the participants and sponsor. In an international context, it is often not only knowledge and skills gaps that need to be bridged, but language also. Language competence is essential in preparing participants to train and work internationally. Extending English language skills alongside the development of vocational knowledge and fieldwork requires flexibility and the ability to tailor content for individual participants, while not losing focus on the other training components. Purpose-built programs such as the one featured in this case study require intensive pre-planning and the use of specialist staff possessing intercultural competence to deliver content. Sound project management is also a key factor in ensuring success. This presentation will exemplify and illustrate aspects of project design, development and management; identify the design factors that contribute to positive outcomes; and discuss their transferability to other contexts.
Dr Geraldine McGuire, Managing Director, Rainforest Bounty Innovating Northern Australian Native Foods The native bush foods of Northern Australia have been wild harvested on a small scale for commercial purposes for more than 30 years and grown in orchards for at least 20 years. These have usually been very small scale operations of one or two people working seasonally then sending the produce to manufacturing companies in Southern Australia. The real commercial return on bush foods is in the value-adding processes such as drying and freezing then using them in small quantities as additives in condiments and restaurant dishes. So these foods which have incredible food properties and health benefits have been providing value to Southern Australian businesses while the opportunities have been largely lost to Northern Australian people. The lack of larger scale bush food orchards, location of suitable manufacturing facilities, mechanization of harvesting and processing techniques and access to export markets are key constraints to the growth of this potentially large and climate adapted industry in Northern Australia. This paper examines the extent and value of the current native food industry in Northern Australia and proposes solutions for realizing the opportunities.
Dr Eva McRae-Williams, Principal Research Leader, Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education – CRC for Remote Economic Participation Associate Professor John Guenther, Principal Research Leader, Flinders University – CRC for Remote Economic Participation Our North, whose future: What is the scope for Aboriginal workforce development? In this paper we use key learnings from the Cooperative Research Centre for Remote Economic Participation (CRC REP), Remote Education Systems and Pathways to Employment research projects to critique the white paper on Developing the North and the potential of such a future to unleash the norths potential. With very little about how to maximise the values of Aboriginal peoples or even a recognition of the availability of an Aboriginal workforce, we ask how this traditionally orientated development proposal will build strengths and capacities within the
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
SESSION ABSTRACTS North, not simply contribute to Gross National Product (GNP). From a strong research base we highlight flawed assumptions behind current Aboriginal employment strategies and what does and does not work in terms of local Aboriginal workforce development. Through this we point to an extensive gap in innovation with industry and entrepreneurial activity limited to five growth sectors. Finally, drawing on the results and implications of our respective research projects, we propose some ways in which industries, regulators, legislators and government sponsored innovation initiatives could respond to better harness the latent potential of Aboriginal peoples and communities.
Mrs Susan Murphy, Chief Executive Officer, Winun Ngari Aboriginal Corportation Partnerships, empowerment and the Frist Australians in Northern Australia Winun Ngari Aboriginal Corporation has been working in the West Kimberley region for over 30 years and benefits from long term relationships with over 15 remote communities in the region. We have seen numerous government policies which move between empowerment and disempowerment and everything in-between. We now have a time where there is a perfect storm of opportunity which exists between changing government policy, economic prosperity, cultural celebration and selfdetermination. We have been working with each of the communities we represent to amplify their voices and drive a true self determinist model. Our findings have been… unremarkable. Our communities want to develop their commercial opportunities in partnership with others. They want to celebrate their culture, want their children to get a good education and reduce their reliance on Government. Pretty simple. The challenge is that there are a lot of questionable behaviour that occurs in the bush. A lot of people are advantaged to perpetuate the dysfunction for their own gain. Unfortunately, their gain has historically and continues to come at the cost of real benefits and outcomes. In our region we have started dismantling this dysfunction through a people focused approach to pave the way for meaningful partnerships to deliver commercial outcomes. The end state for us and the communities is a network
of interconnected communities, benefiting from external investment to drive commercial outcomes and allow communities to flourish.
Professor Richard Murray, Dean of Medicine and Head of School, James Cook University Joining the pipeline: a medical specialist training system to serve the priority needs of northern Australia The number of medical graduates in Australia has more than doubled over a decade, a measure predicated largely on the shortage of doctors in regional, rural and remote areas. However, the system that trains medical graduates to become consultant specialists remains physically and culturally based in large public hospitals in major cities. The mismatch is contributing to the rapid growth of sub-specialist trainees and consultants in the cities, while shortages of regionally-based specialists persist (especially the ‘generalist’ specialists). Whilst training in the specialty of General Practice has been regionalised since the early 2000s, there is an opportunity to better connect training from medical school through to work as a GP in communities of greatest need. Australia has no shortage of doctors, given a record 3.4 medical practitioners per 1000 population (higher than the OECD average and much more than New Zealand, the UK, Canada and the USA). The real challenges are geographic distribution, strengthening the role of generalists and reforming models of healthcare and financing. James Cook University and northern Queensland Health and Hospital Services have established the Northern Clinical Training Network as a system of specialist training that is based in Northern Australia. Along with this, the delivery of General Practice training for regional Queensland by JCU affords opportunities to better connect the rural pipeline to a general practice careers. This session will explore the implications and opportunities for northern medical specialist training through the Developing Northern Australia agenda and recently announced Commonwealth and jurisdictional reforms.
Mrs Anne Neil, Manager, Department of the Premier and Cabinet Governance in a new policy environment - the role of Government The introduction by the Federal Government of the White Paper for Developing Northern Australia (the White Paper) represents a policy disruption, that is, it is different to the manner in which policy has traditionally been delivered. Unique in that it seeks horizontal integration and collaboration across a number of themes,
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
SESSION ABSTRACTS rather than single vertical delivery and influence only to targeted sectors. Stakeholder interest in the White Paper is diverse. The Queensland Government as one of the three jurisdictions of concern for the delivery of the White Paper, has and continues to operate within pre-existing governance structures established. Given the unique nature of this policy, it is apparent that traditional governance structures, including those of the Queensland Government will be challenged. By embracing changes to traditional policy delivery the Queensland Government should stand to derive maximum benefit from the White Paper policies and associated funding programs. The presentation will look at the governance changes that the Queensland Government has taken to respond and develop a North Queensland agenda. It will also examine what is good governance, and identify opportunities where the Queensland Government can respond to this challenge and a possible policy trend of horizontal integration.
Ms Ilsa Nielsen, Principle Workforce Officer, Allied Health Professions’ Office of Queensland, QLD Dept of Health An allied health rural and remote employment model to enhance workforce sustainability The allied health workforce includes a range of independent professions that provide health services to rural and remote communities in northern Australia including physiotherapists, dieititians and pharmacists. Despite recent increases in graduate numbers, geographic mal-distribution and an increasing trend towards specialisation is impacting workforce sustainability and service access for rural and remote populations. Eleven Allied Health Rural Generalist Training Positions (AHRGTP) were implemented in rural and remote Queensland in 2014 to trial a model of early career employment. AHRGTP host teams implemented enhanced support and development for the graduates to address known recruitment barriers of professional isolation and access to professional development. Teams used the additional capacity provided by the position to implement service strategies such as telehealth to improve access, effectiveness and quality of care for consumers. The AHRGTP trial was evaluated by the Queensland Department of Health and an external research team. The AHRGTP trial has demonstrated the successful
components of an early career recruitment and employment model that could support workforce sustainability in northern Australia and have health service access benefits for rural and remote communities.
Mr Keith Noble, Director, Terrain NRM Governance by the People, For the People: But How? Northern Australia’s viable and diverse agricultural industry already is a major contributor to Australia’s economy, with a gross forecast value in 2015-16 of $57.13 billion, providing $43.4 billion in export earnings (ABARES, 2015). And with less than 5% of the national population currently living in the more than 40% of Australia that qualifies as ‘the north’, there is plenty of opportunity for growth. However, Australia is a democracy, so the 95% of Australians who don’t call the North home are going to ask “what’s in it for me?”, and their vote will be susceptible to scare campaigns about environmental degradation, exploitation, and the precautionary principle. There have been many grand endeavours to develop Northern Australia since European settlement, and whilst each has generally contributed to overall progress, there are plenty of examples for nay-sayers to point at and say “what’s different this time round?” The Our North, Our Future whitepaper tenet to ‘build a strong, prosperous economy and a safe, secure Australia’ goes part of the way to addressing this, but renewed governance processes are required that enable all Northern residents to both have a say in their future, and to reassure broader Australia that development is neither at the expense of our environment, nor opportunities for future generations. What is different in today’s push is the existence of regional NRM bodies throughout Australia, particularly in the north. These groups provide the opportunity for crosssector consideration and decision-making: industry, conservation, and community. They also, at least in Queensland, now fill a void left through the retraction of many government services, whether these be extension in agriculture, or capacity building in regional groups. Whilst the future of NRM bodies is not assured through current funding arrangements, they do provide a lowcost, long-term and proven mechanism to strengthen regional governance processes.
Mr Lincoln Parker, Group Manager Business Development, Trade & Investment Queensland Queensland Government
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
SESSION ABSTRACTS Attracting investors through global presence & industry collaboration Trade and Investment Queensland’s vision for Northern Queensland - Government and Policy objectives. Supporting local companies to create export opportunities and links/partnerships with global organisations. Promotion of Investment Ready Projects in Northern Queensland to our network of contacts both here in Australia and internationally from China to Europe. Building economic capacity, jobs and major projects in the north as it relates to Government objectives: PPP’s, State Infrastructure Plan, Investment opportunities.
Mark Paterson, Domain Leader – Grids & Renewable Energy Integration Accelerating Northern Australia’s Energy Future The development of Northern Australia will require energy infrastructure that meets the unique challenges of the region. The energy market in the north is complex with both interconnection to the National Electricity Market in Queensland and an ‘archipelago’ of isolated grids, communities, outstations and mining operations in the Northern Territory and Western Australia. This presentation will explore how unleashing the enormous potential of Australia’s north will require a very strategic push for smart, low carbon electrification and exploiting the technology export opportunities that this enables.
Miss Ann Penny, Project Manager - State of the Tropics, James Cook University Sustainable Infrastructure Development for the Tropics Northern Australia in a global context How we finance, build, manage, and maintain large-scale infrastructure will determine not only future economic prosperity but also significantly influence environmental sustainability and social equity. Infrastructure development has particular resonance in the world’s tropical regions. By 2050, most of the world’s population and two thirds of its children will reside in the Tropics. With tropical economies growing 20% faster than the rest of the world, infrastructure and cities are expanding rapidly. At the same time, most nations of the Tropics endure a disproportionate share of poverty, inequality and disease. The OECD estimates that 75% of the infrastructure that will be needed by 2050 does not yet
exist; much of this need will be in the Tropics. It is critical that such developments are well planned and managed so as to maximise social and economic benefits, while minimising environmental impacts. Recognising the critical importance of infrastructure development to the Tropics, the next major State of the Tropics output will be a comprehensive report on ‘Sustainable Infrastructure in the Tropics’ due for publication in early 2017. Through an analysis of key indicators, the report aims to assess the current status of infrastructure development across the entire region, identify critical infrastructure deficits and needs, and examine key issues and best practice case studies relating to the broad range of infrastructure developments across the Tropics. This presentation will give an overview of this initiative, providing an update on analyses and an overview of outcomes of an Australia-ASEAN Council sponsored international workshop on infrastructure development in the Tropics. It will focus particularly on the implications of the rapid changes the tropical zone is experiencing for Northern Australia and the challenges and opportunities these provide for the region.
Mrs Diane Pentz, CEO, Regional Development Australia Pilbara Mid and North Western Australia Investment Portfolio Regional Development Australia (RDA) Pilbara is the lead organisation in the development of the Mid and North Western Australia Investment Portfolio and is working in collaboration with RDA Kimberley, RDA Midwest Gascoyne, Pilbara Development Commission and the Mid West Development Commission to develop this Portfolio.
SESSION ABSTRACTS The objective of the portfolio is to attract investment into four regions located in the north of Western Australia. These regions include the Kimberley, Pilbara, Gascoyne and Mid West. The regions are vast and blessed with enormous land based and marine resources in virtually every sector of the economy. The portfolio will be a unique document that will be used to inform and attract investment from key stakeholders in the public and private sectors across Australia as well as overseas investors.
Dr Cuan Petheram, Research Scientist, CSIRO Skimming the cream of the opportunity milk Escalating concerns about water availability in southern Australia and government desire to develop regional economies have renewed attention towards the potential use of water in Australia’s undeveloped and sparsely populated north. This paper presents information on the hydrology and water storage opportunities across northern Australia, to broadly inform land and water management decisions by defining the scale and distribution of alternative sources of water including large in-stream and off-stream dams, ring tanks, groundwater, wetlands and natural water bodies and ‘subsurface’ dams. A key finding is that each of these alternative sources of water has a role to play in maximising the cost-effectiveness of water supply in northern Australia and there is no one ‘water’ solution across the North. For contrast the results are compared to southern Australia and other parts of the world.
Mr Stephen Prasser, Director Commercial and Aviation Department, Northern Territory Airports
The project has two key objectives
The Tourism-Trade relationship and Northern Australia’s international connectivity
1. To undertake a review and update of infrastructure investment opportunities and draw upon regional development plans in order to identify major future infrastructural and utility projects that are essential to the development of the four regions and
Opportunities for growing the economies of northern Australia through tourism, international trade in goods and services, primary industries, inflows of Foreign Direct Investment will rely heavily upon our region’s connectivity to international markets.
2. To undertake and in-depth identification, scoping and profiling of key private sector-led project opportunities across major productive sectors that have the potential to attract new investment and economic diversification into the four regions. This includes an assessment of the regulatory pathways that will impact upon investment decisions.
Northern Australia’s proximity to Asia is often cited as providing our region with a distinct competitive advantage over our southern counterparts. The reality, however, is that proximity itself provides no material benefit without direct connectivity, and fewer than 1.5% of international passengers arriving in or departing from Australia do so through an airport in northern Australia. Where an international journey to or from an airport in northern
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
Australia requires transiting through a major airport further south (generally Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne), the proximity advantage actually belongs to the southern capitals. Much of Australia’s international tourism growth over the past five years has been driven by Asia, and China in particular. While Australia’s major international tourist destinations such as Sydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast are enjoying double-digit growth in Chinese visitors, the Northern Territory’s inbound international tourist numbers have been flat. Rather than automatically looking to China for tourism growth, Darwin and the regional centres of Northern Australia need to better understand their product offering, and in particular which international markets their product is most appealing to, in order to target their marketing efforts and resources most effectively. As passenger airlines increasingly look to improve their margins by utilising their belly-hold cargo space, the ability of northern Australia to grow tourism and trade by improving its connectivity with international markets may depend on ensuring that our region’s exportable commodities are actually exported through airports in northern Australia.
Professor Ric Price, Professor of Global Health, Menzies School of Health Research Novel diagnostics for the elimination of malaria The elimination of malaria from the Asia Pacific will require better methods for detecting low level infections and treatment with highly effective drugs to kill the parasites. The only drug we have to treat the malaria parasites in the liver is primaquine, a drug which can cause severe reactions in some patients with an inherited enzyme deficiency (G6PD - present in 1-30% of the population). It is vital to develop diagnostic tests that can be used at the bedside to identify patients with this deficiency so that they can be treated differently. In this short talk progress will be presented on the development of new rapid G6PD tests along with results from recent field studies of its use in clinical practice.
Professor Bruce Prideaux, Professor of Sustainable Tourism, CQUniversity Innovation Based Tourism Development in Northern Australia Tourism is a business sector that thrives on innovation. The rise of low cost carriers, on-line booking and Airbnb
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
SESSION ABSTRACTS are just a few examples of the role that innovation has played in the growth of tourism as a major economic sector in the global economy. The ongoing need for innovation was highlighted by a recent report by the Productivity Commission (2011) that found that although there is a positive relationship between innovation and business success only a very small number of firms are actively innovating. Nationally, the need for an innovative economy was recognised by the Commonwealth Government which recently announced a $1 billion program of incentives to assist investors in start-ups and venture capital partnerships. Lack of innovation often leads to poor market performance; a factor that may explain in part the poor performance of the tourism industry in much of northern Australia over the last decade. Significantly, during this period there was significant growth in the global tourism industry. The importance of tourism to the northern Australian economy was recently recognised in the Federal Government White Paper on Northern Australia which identified tourism as one of the five pillars of the region’s economy. Unfortunately, the newly established Cooperative Research Centre for Northern Australia has ignored tourism in its preliminary panel of research areas. This is surprising given that with the importance ascribed to the sector by the White Paper and its obvious need for assistance. This paper examines the role that innovation is able to play in revitalising the northern Australia tourism sector and suggests a number of strategies for promoting a broader application of innovation as a core business driver.
Ms Priscilla Radice, Principal, Maritime & Aviation Business Leader Australasia, Arup Pty Limited Ms Penny Hall, Associate, Integrated Design + Planning Leader Australasia Distance is no longer tyranny Arup has been a key player, investing time, effort and resources into the study of cities and the issues they face in responding to this massive change. We develop powerful collaborations with leading global thinkers, lobbyists and drivers of city transformation, including the World Economic Forum, The C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group and the Rockefeller Foundation. Arup is applying our global cities design thinking to re-imagine Darwin as Australia’s ASEAN hub. Northern Australia is a vital cross roads between Asia and the Pacific; increasingly at the centre of the action. The trade and people flows will strengthen and deepen over
time, creating growth corridors and catalytic hubs at the intersections. It is clear Northern Australia will play an increasingly vital role in supplying Asia with food and energy. Can it also play a greater role in opening our borders more seamlessly between Australia and our ASEAN neighbours? Darwin is closer to Jakarta than Sydney, is a key intersection point between Australia and Indonesia and can play a major role in facilitating connectivity. A place where we can trade, work and play across a network of identified Asian cities.
SESSION ABSTRACTS engagement process which included several face-to-face workshops throughout Australia and an on-line survey, NCCARF has designed CoastAdapt which will deliver to the needs of our stakeholders.
Professor Jeremy Russell-Smith, Research coordinator, Darwin Centre for Bushfire Research, Charles Darwin University A transition to a sustainable land economy in northern Australia
Arup is investing in the development of a framework for how Australia and Indonesia can better interconnect as near neighbours and the role Darwin can play in our future.
Professor Louis Schofield, Director Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University
Arup will outline this vision as planned with our key partners.
Tropical Health – Innovation and Commercialisation
Dr Talia Raphaely, Lecturer, Curtin University Sustainability and Policy (CUSP) Institute Supplying the dining boom in an era of climate change In the era of climate change and uncertainty, it is germane to consider the sustainability of Northern Australia’s reliance on its beef export industry as a growth sector. Cattle are both cause and victim of unpredictable weather and are vulnerable to extreme meteorological events. This paper discusses why faith on livestock production and export may not be the best option for unleashing potential in the longer term and explores plant-based possibilities that may more securely facilitate and capitalise on the northern territory’s transition from mining to dining boom.
Dr David Rissik, Deputy Director, National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility CoastAdapt: supporting coastal stakeholders to manage coastal climate risk in Australia Climate change presents a major risk to the Australian coast, with sea-level rise, cyclones, floods, drought and heatwaves likely to affect some or all of the coast at some time in the future. The National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF) is developing CoastAdapt, a framework to support coastal stakeholders to understand and manage coastal climate risk, particularly from sea-level rise and storm surge. Following a significant and wide reaching stakeholder
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
Northern Australia’s tropical latitude and close proximity to South East Asia means that we are well positioned to develop and deliver innovative therapeutics for the treatment of diseases prevalent in our tropical region. The Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (AITHM) at James Cook University is active in this area and is pioneering the development of therapeutics, vaccines and drugs for the treatment of tropical diseases and parasites, such as tuberculosis, malaria and hookworm. An example of AITHM’s work in this area is the preclinical development of a vaccine aimed at global malaria eradication. With 600 million cases of malaria annually, the disease imposes a heave burden in tropical regions, including Australia’s near neighbours. Recent funding received from the New Interventions in Global Health programme of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is allowing a team of researchers from AITHM and the Walter and Eliza Hall Research Institute to develop a broad-spectrum vaccine designed to be effective against most species and stages in the malaria life cycle. Projects like these may not only have enormous impact on the health of Australia’s near neighbours, but also have the potential to position Northern Australia as a centre for biotechnological innovation on the world stage. This will bring significant health and economic benefits to the region and contribute to the ongoing development of Northern Australia.
Mr Ben Schnitzerling, Principal, Australasia Transport and Resources Leader, Arup SmartFarm - An Innovative Approach to Export of Premium Food Produce The population of South East Asia is growing, and the middle class within that population is growing at a significantly higher rate. The middle class of India, China and Indonesia is forecast to increase from 1.8 billion to around 5 billion people by 2030, with the proportion of consumption of that middle class predicted to increase from 4% to 45% by 2030. With the growth in disposable income, the demand for high quality Australian soft fruit will grow at least commensurately, with potential for annual sales in excess of A$100M per facility, based on current wholesale prices for the products. SmartFarm is a proposal to develop a pilot facility to grow high-end premium agricultural produce to service the rapidly expanding South East Asian market. SmartFarm is a concept comprising a climate-controlled environment that will promote growth, multiple harvest per year crop. It is envisaged that the facility will comprise a lightweight and thermally efficient structure, with a large span that is designed to optimise robotic operations. It will have a climate controlled environment, with high (relative to atmosphere) concentrations of carbon dioxide and optimised lighting, temperature and humidity to promote plant growth, with self-generation for power and water. Crop would be supported in non-soil growing medium that optimises water requirements, minimises risk of pest and disease and disassociates the SmartFarm location from the agricultural quality of in-situ soils. Automatic operations to the maximum extent possible, with harvest by robotics with vision software to maintain and pick to crops in a fast and efficient manner. It is intended that the facility would be located on low cost, likely industrial land that is close to both export infrastructure and a regional population centre to provide local labour force. Given the close proximity of Northern Australia to the aforementioned target market, viable locations within this region will be considered. In the future it may be feasible that SmartFarm could be developed in the near the cities, or even floating in cities such as Singapore where land cost is high. At this stage however, this is not considered in this proposal.
Mr Gavin Scott, Partner, Ashurst Mr Tony Denholder, Partner, Ashurst
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
SESSION ABSTRACTS Driving investment through land tenure reforms Northern Australia has extreme diversity of land tenure. The region is a vast patchwork of pastoral leaseholds, Indigenous land, native title, freehold and Crown land, all governed by different legislative and regulatory frameworks across three separate States. Unsurprisingly, the complexity of these land tenure arrangements has featured prominently in past examinations of barriers to economic development in Northern Australia. In the Our North, Our Future: White Paper on Developing Northern Australia (White Paper), the Federal Government recognised that, in order to unlock the economic potential of Northern Australia, reform to these land tenure regimes is crucial. This presentation will explore possible strategies and necessary systems which should be implemented by investors and industries currently operating in Northern Australia to allow these parties to navigate both the upcoming reforms to land tenure regimes across the Northern States, and the transition phase of an alreadycomplicated regulatory landscape. One area of focus for these parties should be early and effective engagement with native title parties, particularly native title corporations, as the economic empowerment of native title holders and other Indigenous parties is central to the land reform process. Parties should also consider the opportunities presented by the proposed reforms to the historical restrictions on pastoral leases, which have long stifled economic activity and development in Northern Australia. The land tenure reform process will simplify and broaden the pastoral leaseholder tenure system, making these leases more diverse, secure and tradeable. The land tenure reform strategies under the White Paper promise to attract greater investment in the region and provide significant benefits for all parties. This presentation will focus on understanding and preparing for these upcoming reforms, particularly by forecasting the ways in which investors and industry will both benefit and be challenged by the land tenure reforms.
Professor Noel Scott, Professor, Griffith University Attracting Asian Tourists to Northern Australia A key issue for Northern Australia is to develop new products for new tourist markets. Its about the same flight time from Darwin to Singapore as it is to Brisbane. There are perhaps five million people living within a four
hours flight south from Darwin and around 250 million within four hours flight north. Developing tourism in Northern Australia requires engaging effectively with Southeast Asian consumers. This paper will provide information about how to adapt products to the interests and requirements of tourists from Asia in visiting Northern Australia. Two case recent studies of new tourism product development undertaken by the Griffith Institute for Tourism will be provided. The first discusses developing memorable experiences of Taiwanese tourists visiting Uluru and more generally about the value of mindful engagement with “big nature” for international tourists. The second details how we worked with a Gold Coast “Learn to Surf” operator to engage Chinese travellers who can often not swim and don’t like going in the sun. Together these case studies of new tourism product development provide a methodology for small business to work with academics to target new markets. They also provide a means for the strategic development of tourism in Northern Australia.
Anne Stunzner, Project Manager, Growing Central Queensland Why a truly collaborative approach is vital to growing agribusiness in Northern Australia - Building the Rookwood Weir Growing Central Queensland believes in deep collaboration with stakeholders to develop fully an innovative and valued economically successful agricultural community that is internationally recognised as the leading region for sustainable production and investment in agribusiness. While these are high ideals, the presentation will focus on how and why Central Queensland has been successful to date through true collaboration in a public private partnership. The discussion will highlight how an open and honest relationship with local, state and federal government, the education sector and private business has evolved the business case for building cornerstone water infrastructure, processing facilities and industry intensification investment opportunities. At half way into the three year funding period, the Growing Central Queensland concept has travelled significantly down the pathway to develop into an independent membership based organisation aligned with exporting partners to take full advantage of supply chain opportunities in the region. Growing Central Queensland has worked with its stakeholders to shift regional priorities from ‘non-existent’ on the Infrastructure Australia priority list to being one of four identified growth areas in Australia, the only prioritised water infrastructure in the country and in the top ten of infrastructure proposals in Australia.
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
SESSION ABSTRACTS Mr Wally Tallis, General Manager, Indigenous Business Australia IBA and the Business Development and Assistance Program Our aim of the presentation is to provide an update on how IBA’s Business Development and Assistance Program (BDAP) has evolved over the last year and how we can work together to support the growth of a sustainable Indigenous business sector. BDAP is a financial program that strives to work in a manner that is both culturally capable and a supportive service model to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and businesses - with a strong focus on working with our customer. We assist eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to start, buy and/or grow a business. We have specialised teams and expertise assisting our customers to make informed decisions along their business journey. Working collaboratively with IBA partners and customers to support commercially viable and sustainable businesses. We have teams interconnected across Australia representing all regions. In conclusion, IBA is the financier within the business lifecycle with a strong focus on supporting our customers on their journey. IBA is committed to collaborating with government (state and federal) and private sector partners to better meet the needs of the Indigenous business sector.
Nathan Taylor, Chief Economist, CEDA Economically managing the North’s water resources While Australia’s water variability has created hardships, it has also resulted in a series of policies in the agricultural sector to manage uncertainty. As a consequence, Australia’s water management policies have encouraged the skills and capabilities so that a 70 per cent reduction in water availability in a large irrigated economy (the Murray- Darling Basin) had very little aggregate economic impact. This represents an achievement of global significance and is of vital importance for opening the North to agriculture. To ensure that North Australia’s emerging agricultural sector is developed to its full potential, it is important to learn the policy successes and failures from other parts of the country. CEDA undertook a multi-year join
research project examining Australia’s water resources that identified the policy settings that would allow a successful agricultural sector in Northern Australia. There are fundamental shifts occurring in commodity markets as a result of rapid development in the emerging economies of Asia, and the currently unsustainable water management practices in India and China. These trends will create new opportunities for Australia’s irrigation resources. Australia has some world leading policy in water management. However, it is been a result of a response to past crises. It is important that the lessons learnt, such as establishing sustainable diversion limits and not subsidising water among others, are applied to new irrigation districts. CEDA has identified these opportunities and articulated a reform agenda that would allow Northern Australia to successfully introduce a world competitive agricultural sector.
Dr Lissa van Camp, Principal Environmental Scientist, Golder Associates Providing energy security in Northern Australia through well-sited hybridised renewable energy generation solutions This case study demonstrates the advantages of a hybridised renewable energy solution and how it can be applied to Northern Australia, taking full advantage of this region’s abundant renewable energy resources and the availability of numerous renewable technologies (e.g. tidal, wind, solar, pumped hydro). In addition we demonstrate that a hybridised renewable approach, supported by the White Paper on Developing Northern Australia, will help drive economic growth, meet Australia’s renewable energy target and create the opportunity to export clean power to Asia. In that context, we identify the opportunities and constraints for harnessing the energy resources in Northern Australia, with a focus on building understanding and social acceptance of the proposal, while ensuring energy security and an economic return on investment. A barrier to investment in renewable energy is the perception that renewables cannot respond to demand cycles and therefore pose a threat to energy security. Complementary technology renewable projects (collocated or dispersed) in Northern Australia would be able to supply the needs of the grid as supply and demand shift. The proposed Port Augusta Renewable
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
SESSION ABSTRACTS Energy Park in regional South Australia is a hybrid wind/ solar PV project with a planned capacity of 375MW. The project is currently being assessed by the South Australian planning authority and if approved will generate greater than 770GWh of electricity annually. By combining both wind and solar resources, the generation profile closely matches both the demand and the spot-price cycles, resulting in greater revenues for the developer and/ or operator, while also reducing end user reliance on expensive peaking power. Having a hybrid solution where each technology generates power at different times of the day also allows the developer to maximize use of existing transmission infrastructure. The project has been sensitively developed to give immediate social, environmental and economic outcomes for landholders and other stakeholders.
Mr Paul Victory, General Manager Qld & NT, SeaLink Queensland Northern Australia - A Call for Tourism Action Northern Australia is extremely well positioned to attract significant inbound growth if it is committed to infrastructure renewal, transport, accommodation and tourism product sectors come together. Northern Australia has a competitive advantage above other Australian ports, with a 2-5 hour flight time into East Asia. Our Tourism industry looking forward to 2020 is focussed on: • Growing demand from Asia • Building competitive digital capability • Encouraging investment and implement regulatory reform agenda • Ensuring tourism transport environment supports growth • Increase supply of labour, skills and indigenous participation • Build industry resilience, productivity and quality Australia has been The Lucky Country, our marketing campaigns led by the Australian Tourism Commission, more recently Tourism Australia, state Tourism Authorities, airline partners such as Qantas and Virgin, Singapore Airlines and now China Southern for Australia have positioned Australia well to capitalise on the growing world travel economy.
Ms Raelene Webb, President, National Native Title Tribunal Reframing the conversation about native title: opportunities not barriers; benefits not problems The conversation about building relationships in native title started in 2011. At about the same time, the national conversation about constitutional recognition was gaining force. In 2015, a new conversation regarding Indigenous land and economic development commenced, and is being continued at the Developing Northern Australia conference in 2016. The time is right to bring together the threads of these dialogues in order to reframe our approach to development in the era of native title, and to refocus the lens on opportunities, not barriers, benefits not problems. Importantly, the opportunities and benefits must be ‘two-way’, that is, there must be consideration of what both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people stand to gain through a more collaborative approach towards recognising and realising the potential of country.
SESSION ABSTRACTS Professor Maxine Whittaker, Dean, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University Positive and negative health impacts of Northern development - maximising gains for the region. A health systems perspective Northern development will result in changes in human settlement, land and water utilization, infrastructure and human, plant and animal mobility. These can create changes in vulnerability and susceptibility to infectious and non-communicable diseases, as well as health needs and accessibility. Using a health systems perspective this paper will review the present status of health services and universal coverage in the north of Australia. It will then discuss what will required from health systems to address both the positive and negative impacts of development in northern Australia. Finally it will provide recommendations to ensure that all people living in northern Australia have positive health and wellbeing gains and can participate in ‘unleashing the potential of the north’s and its peoples.
Reframing the conversation starts with recognising that native title is old, not new; and that native title is not a burden to development, but a potential benefit. Rather than focussing on the barriers that divide us, now is the time to pool our collective experience and knowledge to generate some practical, achievable ideas about how to move forward, together. Most pressing is the need to collaboratively articulate our overarching national development objectives and the regional approaches required to support them. The White Paper on Developing Northern Australia contributes to the reframing of this conversation. It paves the way for a collaborative and national approach, and compels us to reconsider how we currently imagine and respond to the relationship between rights and development. As our attention moves beyond recognition of native title to its ongoing management, it is critically important to all Australians that we work together to oversee development on Indigenous land in a way that liberates but also nurtures the multiple values and potentials of this important resource.
Tourism industry partnerships remain strong through the inbound and wholesale tourism sectors and more recently online aggregated agents selling Australia.
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
SPONSORS Northern Territory Government - Gold Sponsor
DARWIN CONVENTION CENTRE FLOOR PLANS
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Office of Northern Australia - Gold Sponsor
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The Department of Industry, Innovation and Science works to enable growth and productivity for globally competitive industries. This event is sponsored by the department through the Office of Northern Australia, which supports and implements departmental responsibilities in northern Australia.
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The Northern Regional Development Australia Alliance - Silver and Welcome Reception Sponsor
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The Northern Regional Development Australia Alliance (NRDAA) comprises eight Regional Development Australia communities covering Northern Australia. This network has been providing input to the White Paper on Developing Northern Australia and it’s implementation, including the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility.
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Our aim is to ensure our communities receive supportive policies prioritise investment opportunities ensuring the sustainable development of Northern Australia.
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Australian Institute of Company Directors The Australian Institute of Company Directors is committed to excellence in governance. We make a positive impact on society and the economy through governance education, director development and advocacy. Our membership of more than 38,000 includes directors and senior leaders from business, government and the not-for-profit sectors
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The Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) is Australia’s tropical marine research agency. AIMS plays a pivotal role in providing world class, large-scale, long-term research that helps governments, industry and the wider community to make informed decisions about the sustainable use, management and conservation of Australia’s northern marine estate. The overarching goals of AIMS’ research are three-fold: a healthy and resilient Great Barrier Reef, sustainable coastal ecosystems and industries across northern Australia, and environmental sustainable oil and gas industries. With access to a diverse fleet of research vessels, weather stations, sensor networks, long-term data and unique laboratory facilities, such as the National Sea Simulator, AIMS has an unparalleled capability for field and experimental marine research in Northern Australia.
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Halls 1 – 4: into three spaces Meeting Rooms: into two or four spaces
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Northern Australia Development Office (NADO) is an office and meeting space designed as hubs to support industry, investors and the private sector interested in doing high level business in Northern Australia. They feature executive facilities for high level strategic meetings for industry, investors, private sector and government. NADO is a hub for business and industry involved in progressing development across Northern Australia. A number of key industry associations and Australian Government agencies including the Office of Northern Australia and Major Projects Approval Agency are co-located in the offices. Under the leadership of the Department of the Chief Minister, NADO is leading the broader Northern Australia agenda.
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Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
SPONSORS
SPONSORS
Australian National University
James Cook University
The National Centre for Indigenous Studies (NCIS) and The Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research (CAEPR) promote and initiate cross-disciplinary research and teaching in a wide range of areas of relevance to Indigenous Australians. The ANU is committed to fulfilling its leadership role through research that deepens understanding of Indigenous perspectives, cultures and histories.
Ranked in the top 2 percent of the world’s tertiary institutions by the respected Academic Ranking of World Universities produced by the Shanghai Jiao Tong University, James Cook University is dedicated to creating a brighter future for life in the tropics world-wide, through graduates and discoveries that make a difference.
Cairns Institute
The University conducts nationally significant and internationally recognised research in areas such as marine sciences, biodiversity, tropical ecology and environments, global warming, tourism, and tropical medicine and public health care in under-served populations.
The Institute is dedicated to providing innovative, solution-orientated research with local, national and global tropical application. Its location in north Queensland provides a real-world context and tropical research opportunities unparalleled in Australia. The Institute also warmly welcomes national and international scholars, policy specialists, consultants and trainees providing facilities and infrastructure for excellence and innovation.
Since our establishment in 1970, we have expanded into a multi-campus institution with our main campuses in the tropical cities of Cairns, Singapore and Townsville, with smaller study centres in Mount Isa, Thursday Island and Mackay. We also have a campus in Brisbane, operated by Russo Higher Education.
Charles Darwin University Charles Darwin University (CDU) in the Northern Territory is a young institution that already has achieved world rankings for the impact of its research. Times Higher Education ranks CDU in the top 2% of universities in the world and in the top 50 universities under 50 years old. The university has 11 campuses and centres located throughout the Northern Territory, and in Sydney and Melbourne. The largest campus is in the culturally rich city of Darwin. Because of the university’s geographic location on the southern rim of Asia, it has a fundamental interest in South-East Asia, Northern Australia, and in Indigenous Australia. More than 24,000 students study on CDU’s campuses and online in a variety of disciplines including engineering and information technology, the environment, health, psychological and clinical sciences, business, creative arts and humanities, education and law. The university’s expansion into Sydney and Melbourne has enabled it to grow international enrolments. It also grew its market share in India and Nepal, expanded to Sri Lanka and Vietnam, and signed an education and training contract with the Timor-Leste Ministry of Finance.
The Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016 is hosted by the Association for Sustainability in Business Inc. The Association provides a platform for industry and academic leaders to share sustainability knowledge and is committed to supporting the sustainable business practices of their members. The Association is creating a community for industry to work together on challenging sustainability issues.
Darwin Centre for Bushfire Research The Darwin Centre for Bushfire Research (DCBR) at CDU builds on 17 years of world-class applied fire management research undertaken in the Northern Territory Government’s rural fire management agency, Bushfires NT. The Darwin Centre for Bushfire Research aims to extend the capacity to deliver applied fire management research and training opportunities particularly to land managers in north Australia, and with regional neighbours, while at the same time maintaining core commitments to, and furthering opportunities with, current partners, especially on indigenous and conservation lands.
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
POSTER PRESENTER James Cook Veterinary Sciences Potential Contribution to Northern Development
Professor Bruce Gummow, College of Public Health, Medical & Vet Sciences, James Cook Veterinary Sciences
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
EXHIBITORS
EXHIBITORS
AEROmetrex
REMPLAN
AEROmetrex provides cutting-edge geospatial solutions utilising both existing and emerging aerial imaging technologies.
REMPLAN undertakes rigorous research in regional and urban economics, demographic analysis, strategic planning and forecasting. REMPLAN was first developed at La Trobe University in 1999. REMPLAN Economy (114 industry sectors) and REMPLAN Community (1991-2011 Census data) are economic and demographic software packages. REMPLAN products provide region specific detailed data (from LGA to SA1 and destination zone or combinations of these) and incorporates a dynamic economic, population and housing impact modelling capability to allow the analysis of ‘what if’ scenarios.Strong connections have been established with communities, local governments, industry and other economic development agencies across Australia; our activities include:
Our award winning company is particularly experienced in aerial photogrammetry and offers a cutting edge range of orthophotography products, precision digital surface and terrain models, 3D models and value-added geospatial services.
Cohga
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Cohga is a privately owned Australian company with a focus on the development of systems integration and web mapping products, and the supply of associated professional services. The company was formed from a team of GIS professionals who bring decades of applied experience in the spatial industry and whose experience covers business management, data management, spatial analysis, as well as software design, development, implementation and support.
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Etheridge Shire Council Etheridge Shire Council is representing the Gilbert River Agricultural Project, Gulf Cattleman’s Association, Infigen, Genex and Strathmore. Significant developments include irrigated and dry land agriculture, alongside renewable energy projects. Etheridge’s vision is to balance economic growth, social development, environmental sustainability and cultural preservation to shape sustainable progress in the future.
REMPLAN Economy and REMPLAN Community software for researchers, strategic planners, economists, town planners and economic development practitioners Public access online economic and demographic profiles to inform businesses, investors, service providers and communities Impact analysis for funding applications Spatial analysis of ABR business data by area, type, industry and location Consulting for economic development strategies, impact studies, population and employment projections.
T.H.E. Kakadu Plum Pty Ltd Kindred Spirits Foundation is partnering with Indigenous communities in Wadeye, NT and the Kimberly, WA to take harvesting of the native plant species, Kakadu Plum, called ‘gabinge’ in WA to broad commercialisation and establish Traditional Homeland Enterprises to create industries based on native Australian produce centred on participation and direction by Aboriginal peoples through T.H.E. Kakadu Plum Pty Ltd, with profits returned to the member communities for future enterprise activity utilising the supply chain. A sustainable cultural economy for Aboriginal Communities.
Northern Australia Environmental Resources Hub The Northern Australia Environmental Resources Hub supports sustainable development in northern Australia and will inform practical solutions to the regions’ major environmental challenges. The research programme is organised around a number of issue-driven, regional case studies, including: landscape-scale studies covering savanna and aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity; land and water planning for agricultural and infrastructure development, and Indigenous land management. The Hub is supported by funding from the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Programme.
Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority
The Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority (NT EPA) is an independent authority established under the Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority Act. The NT EPA provides advice on the environmental impacts of development proposals and advice and regulatory services to encourage effective waste management, pollution control and sustainable practices.
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
Notes
MID WEST GASCOYNE : MACKAY ISAAC ISSAC WHITSUNDAY:
The Northern Regional Development Australia Alliance (NRDAA) comprises eight Regional Development Australia communities covering Northern Australia.
We help to prioritise and facilitate investment opportunities ensuring the sustainable development of Northern Australia. Please contact us:
W: www.northernrdaalliance.com.au E:
[email protected]
PILBARA : FITZROY CENTRAL WEST : FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND AND TORRES STRAIT : KIMBERLEY
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
Developing Northern Australia Conference 2016
NORTHERN TERRITORY : TOWNSVILLE AND NORTH WEST:
Notes
Conference Secretariat Developing Northern Australia Conference PO Box 29, Nerang QLD 4211 W: www.northaust.org.au | E:
[email protected]
