Overhaul of Northern Australia Taskforce

The Federal Government announced an overhaul of the Northern Australia Land and Water Taskforce. The changes include new membership, removing all politicians from the group, and new terms of reference, tackling the environmental, economic and social challenges facing northern Australia in the 21st century.

Prominent Indigenous leader, Mr Joe Ross from Fitzroy Crossing in Western Australia will be the new chair of the Taskforce.

The new taskforce draws on experience from a diverse range of interests, including business, indigenous, conservation, agriculture, mining and science.

As part of the overhaul of the taskforce, the Government gave them two main responsibilities. They are:

• Finding new opportunities for economic development in the north based on water availability and sustainability; and
• Reporting on the potential impact of new development on water balance and quality, the environment, existing water users and the broader community.

According to the Government press release, the overhaul is about bringing together the best minds to work in partnership and create opportunities for sustainable development in northern Australia.

The parliamentary secretary for regional development, Gary Gray, says it will work better the new way:

"We think you'll get a better balance of opinion, a better balance of science and a better balance of agricultural knowledge of water resource knowledge if you go for experts."

"And so as much as it's important for politicians to have a view of these things we thought it best to take off all the politicians [and] remove all the politics."

"There's more to agriculture than simply defining where the water is."

"You need to make judgements about sustainable water use, about soil types and about the uses to which soils can be out. You also have to have an overarching, environmental and economic view that helps inform public policy making."

See the press release here and the report from ABC News here.