Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
The Property Council of Australia's in t Division this week
released what they've described as a landmark report, Growing Northern
Australia Solutions for Regional Development and Sustainability, calling for targeted investment,
culturally informed policy and stronger local partnerships to unlock the
North's full potential. The report outlines clear recommendations to support
(00:23):
first nations their development, boost regional connectivity, attract private sector
investment and create jobs across sectors like housing, tourism, renewable
energy and more. Now joining me on the line is
Executive director Ruth Palmer. Good morning to you, Ruth.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Good morning Katie.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Now Ruth tell me a little bit more about what
the purpose of was the report for the report.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Yeah, thanks Katie. I'm in Kens at the moment for
the Developing the North conference and this week we have
released our Growing Northern Australia the Northern Territory Report. Basically
what that is, it's a report that basically outlines how
we can grow the Northern Territory in a way that
(01:09):
we're doing community led initiatives but also be able to
grow the workforce. Looking at taste studies around the Northern
territory and building up our regions but also our communities
as well, So how we can engage with First Nations
communities projects that are happening in those communities, but getting
people back into the workforce really and looking at ways
(01:31):
that you know, we're growing pretty much Northern Australia, how
we should be because we know there's bubbles as all
across Australia. We know that there's a squeeze around housing,
So how do we get people to come to the
Northern Territory and how can we do it in a
way that we're including everyone and that everyone's involved and
that we're you know, looking at that sort of that
(01:55):
growth potential. We you know, everyone talks about Northern Australia,
so how so how can we do that.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
And how can we make sure that there's opportunities for
people when you go more regional or remote as well.
Everybody you know needs those opportunities to be able to work. Ruth,
I know it does call for targeted investment. What kind
of investment does the Property Council think needs to happen.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Yeah, So there's a couple of things, Katie. So workforce
developments a really big one in this piece. So we
know people want to be on country. We know people
want to work in their locations, So how do we
then build our remote workforce, whether it's regional training centers,
regional training hubs when we're looking at construction workers, people
(02:39):
that want to sort of even in mining or our tradees,
but also childcare as well. We know that flights are
unaffordable for a lot of people. We know it's expensive.
If your in Tennant Creek, it's not very easy to
get to Darwin, you can't go in for training. So
what are we doing to make that more accessible, more
affordable for people to want to be able to learn
(03:01):
how to learn how to do a skill but still
remain on country. And that's things like with childcare as well.
So if there's you know, parents that are at home,
they can't necessarily just sort of leave kids and then
get into di and for training. So what are we
doing to sort of support support those people who want
to remain in their country but also to be able
(03:23):
to then get that necessary training that they need to
be able to do the job that they want.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
So the report does offer some practical solutions. What are
some of the practical solutions when you look at the
ways in which we could develop you know, Northern Australia,
but indeed the Northern Territory.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Yes, we've put in a few case studies there, Katie,
So across different sectors we've added case studies in what
I found that basically worked around in ordern Territory. So
there's the learner the training farm, so again building an
agriculture farm on country. There is the learning on country program,
there's a bush Light program and will agenda housing as well,
(04:03):
so building culturally appropriate housing for people that they want
to want to live in Northern Australia and especially the
Northern Territory. So climatic issues is obviously a concern for most,
So how are we starting to build costally appropriate housing
for people to want to stay in the Northern Territory
but also to remain in areas that they want to
(04:25):
be living in. So you know, how do you keep
people in their communities on country, but also how do
you keep them growing and learning in their areas. So
things that we're looking at is especially around the regional migration.
So you know, what are we doing federally, especially to
make sure that the Northern Territory becomes a place that
(04:46):
people can come to and you know, looking at those incentives,
so regional migration zones. You know, we know that Gold
Coast and Perth and along are listed as regional migration.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
If you're trying to attract you know, whether you're talking
like yesterday we were talking about the primary health network
in this space as in you know, primary health GPS,
that kind of thing. Like you talk about attracting and
having you know, these bonuses, all these different tax mechanisms
for people living regionally. And if you've got you know,
people moving to Catherine getting the same as what you
(05:21):
get if you move to the Gold Coast, do you
just think how ridiculous?
Speaker 2 (05:25):
Yeah, that's right, and the same It's the same with
the tax offsets as well. So each year we all know,
living in the Northern Territory we get about three hundred
and thirty six or if you're in sort of Alice
Springs or Catherine, you get a thousand dollars back on
your tax each year. That hasn't been changed since the nineties,
So this is something we're also looking at. Like when
(05:47):
you're looking at those regional tax migration offsets, you know
sort of can that be overhauled. Can we look at
ways to encourage people to want to come to the
Northern Territory to set up here, to build, to build,
how to build properties, but you know, looking at those
looking at those incentive models and how we can change
that so it actually becomes more attractive. Because people in Sydney,
(06:11):
if they're in Victoria, it is becoming unaffordable in those places.
So we know the Northern Territory is still quite affordable
when it comes to housing. So what are we doing
to then get those people here? What are we doing
to grow that workforce, and what are we doing to
look at the potential of the Northern Territory, especially around
tourism as well well.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Property Council of Australia's Northern Territory Executive Director Ruth Palmer,
good to speak with you this morning. Thanks so much
for your time. Thanks Like Katie having, thank you you too.
The Property Council of Australia's in t Division this week
released what they've described as a landmark report, Growing Northern
Australia Solutions for Regional Development and Sustainability, calling for targeted investment,
culturally informed policy and stronger local partnerships to unlock the
North's full potential. The report outlines clear recommendations to support
(00:23):
first nations their development, boost regional connectivity, attract private sector
investment and create jobs across sectors like housing, tourism, renewable
energy and more. Now joining me on the line is
Executive director Ruth Palmer. Good morning to you, Ruth.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Good morning Katie.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Now Ruth tell me a little bit more about what
the purpose of was the report for the report.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Yeah, thanks Katie. I'm in Kens at the moment for
the Developing the North conference and this week we have
released our Growing Northern Australia the Northern Territory Report. Basically
what that is, it's a report that basically outlines how
we can grow the Northern Territory in a way that
(01:09):
we're doing community led initiatives but also be able to
grow the workforce. Looking at taste studies around the Northern
territory and building up our regions but also our communities
as well, So how we can engage with First Nations
communities projects that are happening in those communities, but getting
people back into the workforce really and looking at ways
(01:31):
that you know, we're growing pretty much Northern Australia, how
we should be because we know there's bubbles as all
across Australia. We know that there's a squeeze around housing,
So how do we get people to come to the
Northern Territory and how can we do it in a
way that we're including everyone and that everyone's involved and
that we're you know, looking at that sort of that
(01:55):
growth potential. We you know, everyone talks about Northern Australia,
so how so how can we do that.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
And how can we make sure that there's opportunities for
people when you go more regional or remote as well.
Everybody you know needs those opportunities to be able to work. Ruth,
I know it does call for targeted investment. What kind
of investment does the Property Council think needs to happen.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Yeah, So there's a couple of things, Katie. So workforce
developments a really big one in this piece. So we
know people want to be on country. We know people
want to work in their locations, So how do we
then build our remote workforce, whether it's regional training centers,
regional training hubs when we're looking at construction workers, people
(02:39):
that want to sort of even in mining or our tradees,
but also childcare as well. We know that flights are
unaffordable for a lot of people. We know it's expensive.
If your in Tennant Creek, it's not very easy to
get to Darwin, you can't go in for training. So
what are we doing to make that more accessible, more
affordable for people to want to be able to learn
(03:01):
how to learn how to do a skill but still
remain on country. And that's things like with childcare as well.
So if there's you know, parents that are at home,
they can't necessarily just sort of leave kids and then
get into di and for training. So what are we
doing to sort of support support those people who want
to remain in their country but also to be able
(03:23):
to then get that necessary training that they need to
be able to do the job that they want.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
So the report does offer some practical solutions. What are
some of the practical solutions when you look at the
ways in which we could develop you know, Northern Australia,
but indeed the Northern Territory.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Yes, we've put in a few case studies there, Katie,
So across different sectors we've added case studies in what
I found that basically worked around in ordern Territory. So
there's the learner the training farm, so again building an
agriculture farm on country. There is the learning on country program,
there's a bush Light program and will agenda housing as well,
(04:03):
so building culturally appropriate housing for people that they want
to want to live in Northern Australia and especially the
Northern Territory. So climatic issues is obviously a concern for most,
So how are we starting to build costally appropriate housing
for people to want to stay in the Northern Territory
but also to remain in areas that they want to
(04:25):
be living in. So you know, how do you keep
people in their communities on country, but also how do
you keep them growing and learning in their areas. So
things that we're looking at is especially around the regional migration.
So you know, what are we doing federally, especially to
make sure that the Northern Territory becomes a place that
(04:46):
people can come to and you know, looking at those incentives,
so regional migration zones. You know, we know that Gold
Coast and Perth and along are listed as regional migration.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
If you're trying to attract you know, whether you're talking
like yesterday we were talking about the primary health network
in this space as in you know, primary health GPS,
that kind of thing. Like you talk about attracting and
having you know, these bonuses, all these different tax mechanisms
for people living regionally. And if you've got you know,
people moving to Catherine getting the same as what you
(05:21):
get if you move to the Gold Coast, do you
just think how ridiculous?
Speaker 2 (05:25):
Yeah, that's right, and the same It's the same with
the tax offsets as well. So each year we all know,
living in the Northern Territory we get about three hundred
and thirty six or if you're in sort of Alice
Springs or Catherine, you get a thousand dollars back on
your tax each year. That hasn't been changed since the nineties,
So this is something we're also looking at. Like when
(05:47):
you're looking at those regional tax migration offsets, you know
sort of can that be overhauled. Can we look at
ways to encourage people to want to come to the
Northern Territory to set up here, to build, to build,
how to build properties, but you know, looking at those
looking at those incentive models and how we can change
that so it actually becomes more attractive. Because people in Sydney,
(06:11):
if they're in Victoria, it is becoming unaffordable in those places.
So we know the Northern Territory is still quite affordable
when it comes to housing. So what are we doing
to then get those people here? What are we doing
to grow that workforce, and what are we doing to
look at the potential of the Northern Territory, especially around
tourism as well well.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Property Council of Australia's Northern Territory Executive Director Ruth Palmer,
good to speak with you this morning. Thanks so much
for your time. Thanks Like Katie having, thank you you too.
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