Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

The government will make an initial $1.2 billion investment in additional growth opportunities across northern Australia, which comes on top of the $5 billion northern Australia infrastructure facility that was announced in the budget. It comes on top of about $5 billion that the government is already investing in transport in infrastructure across northern Australia.

To fast track growth in North, the government will also help business to enter new markets and supply chains by increasing access to the Entrepreneurs' Infrastructure Program and the Industry Skills Fund. A new $75 million cooperative research centre will boost northern focused research. To boost opportunities for Indigenous workers and businesses, the Commonwealth government we require Indigenous procurement targets for all road projects funded through this white paper. Despite these measures, we understand that there are likely to be remaining shortages in some sectors and that is why we are making some changes to working holiday migrant visa programs as well. (Time expired)