Ministers and government representatives met for the seventh Northern Australia Ministerial Forum (NAMF) today, focusing on shared priorities and long-term opportunities for the nation's north.
The Hon Madeleine King MP, Federal Minister for Northern Australia, chaired the Forum and was joined by:
- Senator the Hon Nita Green, Assistant Minister for Northern Australia
- Hon Stephen Dawson MLC, Minister for Regional Development (Western Australia), and
- Ms Laurie Zio MLA, Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister, representing the Hon Lia Finocchiaro MLA, Chief Minister of the Northern Territory
- Ms Ally Foley, Chief of Staff, representing the Hon Dale Last MP, Queensland Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Minister for Manufacturing and Minister for Regional and Rural Development.
The forum received an update from the Outback Highway Development Council on progress of the Outback Way project.
Funded by the Albanese Labor Government, the Western Australian, Northern Territory and Queensland governments, the project is improving the reliability and connectivity of the route between Winton and Laverton.
The upgrades will improve access to Indigenous and remote communities, support freight, mining, and tourism, and strengthen connections across all three northern jurisdictions.
Ministers also heard from Craig Doyle, Chair of the Developing Northern Australia Conference (DNAC) on key themes and opportunities from the 2026 conference, and from Neil MacDonald, CEO of Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) on its latest investment decisions and projects.
NAIF has now supported 35 projects across industries vital to the north, forecast to create more than 18,000 jobs and deliver $33 billion in public benefits.
Ministers also agreed on priorities for the next 12 months, with progress to be reported at future NAMF meetings, including:
- Telecommunications and Digital Connectivity
- Communities in Economic Transition
