Is the momentum to develop northern Australia being lost, or is it just getting started?

Written on the 21 June 2017

Two years after the Northern Australian White Paper outlined a vision to transform the nation's top end into an economic powerhouse, there are concerns the momentum has been lost.

The Developing Northern Australia Conference being held in Cairns has heard the frustrations of people concerned that while the $5 billion Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) considers its first round of loans to private investors, no projects are ready to start.

NAIF chairwoman Sharon Warburton told the conference the facility's role was as a lender, not a grants funder.

She said it had received 119 enquiries and had 60 active deals on the books.

Ms Warburton said the board was energised and focused on its mandate of delivering large-scale infrastructure with public benefit.

Read More...

Soucre: ABC