Mr BONSON - 2006-08-31
You launched the Northern Territory Economic Development Framework and Action Plan at Fingers Aluminium in Winnellie. Can you explain what the framework and action plan mean to the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this is the Northern Territory’s Economic Development Framework. The Minister for Business, Economic and Regional Development and I were at Fingers Aluminium this morning. It is a great little Territory company, started by Mark and Marian Taylor a few years ago with one employee – it now has 16. A real sign of the growth of Territory businesses. Four of those are apprentices and some of their apprentices have stayed with them. They are doing a terrific job, and I pay tribute to them.
The Northern Territory Economic Development Framework is a blueprint for long term economic growth in the Northern Territory, particularly in our regions. It has been developed over 12 months and is based on the recommendations of five regional forums and the Economic Development Summit held in this parliament last November. This is about the real fundamentals for the Northern Territory. It is about skilling our workforce, regional development and, importantly, for the future of the Territory, it is about getting government and the private sector to work in partnership for our economic future.
The Economic Development Framework will assist our decision-making now and into the future. It has a 10-year time frame. It is about achieving long term sustainable outcomes, not only economic, but also in terms of our society and our environment. We heard in the parliament this week from the minister for Business that NT business confidence is currently among the highest in Australia. The latest Sensis Business Index, which was released last week, showed 22% of our businesses are extremely confident about their future compared to 12% nationally. The framework will help keep that momentum.
While our economy is currently robust, we acknowledge that our economic landscape across the Northern Territory is not level. Regional development needs more focus and the Territory needs many more Aboriginal people participating in our economy. That is why we engage business and industry, the regions and our communities in developing the framework and the action plan that goes with it. There are five key objectives: regional growth; investing in our Territory; developing our workforce; improving our productivity; and integrating development with our environment. We want benefits of Territory prosperity to reach all Territorians, no matter where they live.
I thank everyone who contributed to this framework from across the Territory, for their input in those forums and in the summit we held in parliament. If you look at this document, you will see that their efforts are incorporated here and very much appreciated. Our Territory has come a long way, but we have more to do.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this is the Northern Territory’s Economic Development Framework. The Minister for Business, Economic and Regional Development and I were at Fingers Aluminium this morning. It is a great little Territory company, started by Mark and Marian Taylor a few years ago with one employee – it now has 16. A real sign of the growth of Territory businesses. Four of those are apprentices and some of their apprentices have stayed with them. They are doing a terrific job, and I pay tribute to them.
The Northern Territory Economic Development Framework is a blueprint for long term economic growth in the Northern Territory, particularly in our regions. It has been developed over 12 months and is based on the recommendations of five regional forums and the Economic Development Summit held in this parliament last November. This is about the real fundamentals for the Northern Territory. It is about skilling our workforce, regional development and, importantly, for the future of the Territory, it is about getting government and the private sector to work in partnership for our economic future.
The Economic Development Framework will assist our decision-making now and into the future. It has a 10-year time frame. It is about achieving long term sustainable outcomes, not only economic, but also in terms of our society and our environment. We heard in the parliament this week from the minister for Business that NT business confidence is currently among the highest in Australia. The latest Sensis Business Index, which was released last week, showed 22% of our businesses are extremely confident about their future compared to 12% nationally. The framework will help keep that momentum.
While our economy is currently robust, we acknowledge that our economic landscape across the Northern Territory is not level. Regional development needs more focus and the Territory needs many more Aboriginal people participating in our economy. That is why we engage business and industry, the regions and our communities in developing the framework and the action plan that goes with it. There are five key objectives: regional growth; investing in our Territory; developing our workforce; improving our productivity; and integrating development with our environment. We want benefits of Territory prosperity to reach all Territorians, no matter where they live.
I thank everyone who contributed to this framework from across the Territory, for their input in those forums and in the summit we held in parliament. If you look at this document, you will see that their efforts are incorporated here and very much appreciated. Our Territory has come a long way, but we have more to do.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016