The Solution
We can have a thriving northern Australia if we change course now. A better future is possible, but we need to come together to reach this vision.
We’re calling for
Resilient and empowered northern economies and communities;
We want northern communities in the driving seat for the economic and policy change the north wants and needs. Northern Australian economies must be inclusive, participatory and centre the aspirations and leadership of northern Australian communities. Strong and connected communities are how we respond to the impacts that are posed by current and future climate collapse, nature crises and water shortages.
Federal and state investment in Country and Communities;
Taxpayer funds should be directed towards securing the future of northern Australia’s landscapes and communities, including investment in climate resilience and adaptation, jobs on Country, transitioning to 100% renewable energy, water and energy security, and nature protection.
First Nations Governance and Protection of our Free-Flowing Rivers and Ancient Aquifers;
The waterways of northern Australia are of unparalleled cultural and ecological significance. The stewardship of our waterways by First Nations people over millennia must be recognised in law. We want to secure durable protections for free-flowing rivers and groundwater systems that enshrine First Nations Governance. Public investment in water should prioritise water security for communities; protection of environmental flows and aquatic ecosystems, and genuine First Nations participation in water planning.
Federal Policy Solutions that protect the natural and cultural values of Australia’s Great North;
We should ensure that a conservation agenda developed by communities in northern Australia is embedded in institutional, political and legal power structures. This includes the creation of new institutions for northern Australia, advocating for public investment in nature protection, climate adaptation and renewable infrastructure, a plan to secure Australia’s largest protected area estate across northern Australia, aligning Northern Australia policy with Australia’s climate, biodiversity and human rights commitments, and stopping broadscale deforestation and unsustainable water extraction.
An End to Subsidies for Harmful Industries.
Extractive industrial development in northern Australia is often unviable and heavily subsidised. This pattern must be broken, and investment instead redirected towards initiatives that protect Country and nourish communities.
