The Hon Barnaby Joyce MP
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development
MEDIA RELEASE
Wednesday, 13 April 2022
NEW LOGISTICS HUBS TO DRIVE NT’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The Morrison-Joyce Government is investing $440 million in new logistics hubs across the Northern Territory to unlock the region’s vast resources, strengthen supply chains and boost exports.
Building better and stronger logistics connections will help the Territory realise its full potential as a resources powerhouse and facilitate greater export activity.
Our investment in new hubs at Tennant Creek, Alice Springs and Katherine will ensure valuable commodities such as gas and critical minerals reach ports and international markets faster, generating more export income and making our nation wealthier and stronger.
These facilities will create new jobs across the Territory and drive the economic development of communities from Alice Springs to Darwin. The Government’s investments include:
- $216.8 million for a multimodal logistics hub at Tennant Creek;
- $160 million for a logistics and agribusiness hub at Alice Springs; and
- $63.2 million for a logistics and agribusiness hub at Katherine.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Barnaby Joyce said the Government is delivering infrastructure that will make Australia stronger.
“To make Australia as strong as possible as quickly as possible, we must continue to produce and sell products that create wealth,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
“Through our investment in infrastructure in the Northern Territory, we are creating the mechanism by which businesses can make money from the products they produce.
“Whether its $1.5 billion to build port infrastructure at Middle Arm, or $440 million for logistics hubs, we are delivering the projects that will support the growth of industries that make our nation grow.
“Only by having stronger and more efficient freight connections can the gold, zinc, bauxite and gas from the Northern Territory continue to generate the income that underpins our standard of living.”
The Government’s $440 million investment in new logistics hubs forms part of our $7.1 billion investment pipeline under the Energy Security and Regional Development Plan.
This includes $2.6 billion for infrastructure projects across the Northern Territory, including:
- $1.5 billion for port infrastructure to support the growth of Middle Arm, such as a wharf, an offloading facility and dredging of the shipping channel, to boost the region’s importing and exporting ability;
- $300 million to support low emissions LNG and clean hydrogen production at Middle Arm, together with associated carbon capture and storage infrastructure;
- $200 million to further develop the Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct, delivering enabling infrastructure such as a rail spur and a new road network to strengthen supply chains; and
- $110 million in additional funding to continue to upgrade and further seal the Tanami Road, better connecting mining, resources, tourism, and agribusinesses between the Northern Territory and Western Australia.
Under the Energy Security and Regional Development Plan, the Government will develop key regions across Australia, including the Northern Territory, the Pilbara, North and Central Queensland and the Hunter, transforming them into next generation export hubs.
Turbocharging these regional economies will enable people to get the job they want and to pursue their dreams.
Through targeted investments in infrastructure, low emissions technology and energy production, resources extraction and processing, and water infrastructure, we will open up new frontiers of production and growth.
This will attract new sources of investment to Australia, further unlocking the potential of our regions and supporting the industries that earn the export dollars that make us wealthier and stronger.
