Luke Gosling (Solomon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I'm thankful for the opportunity to speak on this portfolio area, which is so important to my electorate of Solomon—the capital of the north, Darwin; Palmerston; and Greater Darwin, the rural area—but also to the whole of the Northern Territory and, of course, to our nation. It is how we are going to grow our nation by having the infrastructure to support that growth and our economic prosperity and our national security into the future.

The Albanese government's first budget, which we are discussing today, has been an absolute bonanza for the Northern Territory. I don't say that to boast, but we are proud that our federal government has seen the incredible potential in the Territory. It won't be magically realised; it needs investment, and that's what we've committed to in this budget by committing $2.5 billion—that's with a 'b'—to critical infrastructure in the Northern Territory. It is one of the largest spends in any jurisdiction, but as I continue you'll see why.

Of that money, $1.5 billion is going towards enabling infrastructure at the Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct. I do acknowledge the bipartisan support for that project. This development is the centrepiece of the Northern Territory's moving towards a much more sustainable economy and of our nation's using the Territory's abundant natural resources, such as solar and the critical minerals that are vital, to helping us build lithium batteries and solar panels as we move to a net zero emissions future and a clean energy economy. What we want to do at the Middle Arm precinct is to build a renewable energy hub.

Sun Cable will be the world's largest solar power project. A lot of people ask about economic development and our renewable energy future. In the Territory we've got lots of land and we've got lots of sun. Put those two things together and what Sun Cable is talking about is approximately 30 kilometres by 30 kilometres of solar array, taking that power and using batteries not only to look after the Northern Territory and the Top End's power needs but also to export Territory sunshine to Singapore and, in the future I'm sure, other nations. That is what the Middle Arm hub is going to support. Green hydrogen and ammonia, the foundations for cleaner fuel, will also be manufactured there. We also want a data storage centre there, powered by solar with those batteries and serving global markets.

Now, it will not be a petrochemicals hub, as the NT Chief Minister has recently confirmed. As I have stated, it is going to be a multiuse facility. In fact, Chief Minister has confirmed that, to date, there haven't been any petrochemical proponents seeking to be part of Middle Arm.

We are deeply committed to protecting the environmental health of our beautiful Darwin harbour. More than 200 studies have already been undertaken by the NT government in relation to the Middle Arm precinct and at this very preliminary stage that is a lot. But there is more to come. NT and federal industry is being responsible and is taking a very responsible role because they know that for this sustainable precinct to thrive and survive we need to meet environmental standards.

I'm very happy with the investment in the north. It's important for the nation, not just the Territory, and I'm hoping to be part of a government that understands the incredible potential of the north. That's why we're spending a lot more as well on roads infrastructure and logistics hubs to get our product to market.

See this speech in context