Plan for northern Australia

WHAT'S IN THE ECONOMIC PLAN FOR NORTHERN AUSTRALIA?

ROADS AND RAIL:

* $5 billion cheap loans for new infrastructure.

* $600 million to upgrade roads - eg, Arnhem, Barkly, Flinders, Great Northern, Savannah and Hann highways, the Outback Way and the Tanami Road.

* $100 million beef roads fund to improve cattle supply chains.

* $39.6 million to upgrade airstrips and subsidise air services.

* $5 million in rail freight analyses - eg, Mount Isa to Tennant Creek railway, Townsville to Mount Isa line.

JOBS:

* Streamline recognition of occupational licences from other jurisdictions.

* Help businesses invest workforce skills via Industry Skills Fund boost.

* Help remote job seekers into real jobs via remote jobs and communities program.

LAND:

* $20.4 million to help native title bodies negotiate with business.

* $17 million for secure property rights for cadastral surveys, area mapping and township leases.

* $10.6 million for pilot land tenure reforms.

* COAG consulted on ways to cut native title costs and delays to settle all claims in next decade; allow indigenous people to borrow against or lease out exclusive native title land.

WATER:

* $200 million water infrastructure development fund.

* Fund gives $5 million for studies in Nullinga Dam near Cairns, $5 million for land-use study of Ord Stage 3.

* Make secure water rights condition for government-funded water projects.

* $15 million for water studies of Mitchell River (Queensland), West Kimberley (Western Australia) and Darwin region (Northern Territory).

INVESTMENT:

* Northern investment forum in Darwin held late 2015 to lure foreign investors.

* New $75 million co-operative research centre on developing northern Australia.

* $15.3 million to advance north on tropical health.

* $12.4 million for indigenous ranger groups to expand biosecurity surveillance.

* Better access to Entrepreneurs' Infrastructure Programme and Industry Skills Fund to let business enter new markets and supply chains.

RED TAPE:

* Cut for investors in Northern Territory with single point of entry in Darwin.

* Streamlined for cultural heritage, fisheries and wildlife trade regulations.

* Office of Northern Australia moved to north

SOURCE: White Paper on Developing Northern Australia