Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

Australia's north must diversify its industrial base

By Annaliese Carrington, Ainsley Hoogland and Jenelle Schneekloth - posted Monday, 23 December 2002


Many people in Northern Australia do not see the need to develop secondary and tertiary industries when the returns from their primary industries are already adequate to support a comfortable lifestyle. However, Northern Australia needs to move away from this focus on primary industries and toward the value-adding secondary and tertiary industries. It is these that will provide opportunities for greater wealth creation.

Arguments supporting the development of Northern Australia have been around for many years. Reasons include the need to use the land fully before exploitation by overseas companies and the need to develop the resource extraction industry to meet both domestic and international demand for raw and processed material. Those arguing against development see the associated infrastructure as vulnerable to attack in times of war.

There is widespread recognition that Northern Australia is rich in natural resources. An estimated 9 million hectares of land in Northern Australia is being used for agriculture. Forests occupy a further 800,000ha. Other minerals, fisheries and water resources are spread across Northern Australia.

Advertisement

To date, the economy of Northern Australia has been dependant on the production and export of these raw materials, either in their or part-processed state. Three industries support most of Northern Australia.

  1. Pastoral: convenient because it stretches over a large area of semi-arid to arid land and involves the relatively simple export of live cattle and carcasses.
  2. Mineral: with the raw product sold to countries or taken out of the region to be further processed.
  3. Agriculture: crops such as tobacco are grown and dried at the farm then transported out of the region for processing elsewhere.

Some people argue that our dependence on primary industry is simply due to the local environment and the tyranny of distance. However development would improve the quality of life for Northern Australians, and the money required to create services and infrastructure would in turn generate more wealth.

Northern Australia's emphasis on primary production means it misses out on the benefits of value-adding. With abundant raw materials the North would be well situated to provide a constant and reliable supply of goods for value-adding, thus ironing out some of the price fluctuations.

Price fluctuations for raw commodities are also common and if a region relies on one industry and the price of the commodity declines, the economy of the whole region is adversely affected. People and business relying on a steady flow of income can often not tolerate such fluctuations; they struggle through, close down, or never open in the first place. On the other hand, if a region has multiple industries it is better positioned to absorb the impact of fluctuating commodity prices.

Most economic theorists and planners argue that, in order to develop, a country or region needs to move away from an emphasis on primary production such as agriculture or mining. If northern Australia were to invest in more infrastructure to diversify industrially it would attract other industry and more services.

Advertisement

The development of infrastructure in northern Australia is essential for its future. Investment in more efficient modes of transport and communication and environmental management infrastructure would not only increase the efficiency of existing industry, but provide the incentive for new and emerging enterprises.

For example, more money were invested in telecommunications in rural areas would benefit not only the people in those places but also the national economy. Effective communication between individuals and companies is essential for trade and industries to flourish in an area.

Such infrastructure would also enhance existing and new secondary and tertiary industries. For example, the money generated by a tertiary industry such as a university specializing in health or commerce would benefit secondary industries like mineral processing and food processing and its graduates could use their knowledge to provide a service to primary and secondary industry. It would also enable partnerships between these different levels of industry to be formed. Such a top-down focus would allow improved use of infrastructure to generate further local income.

Business services to both public and private sectors would best complement existing and likely future primary and secondary industries in Northern Australia. Of particular value would be those dealing with marketing, economics, community and welfare areas and administrative activities. With these improved services possibilities for economic growth would increase, including a boost to tourism which currently brings in $2 billion to Australia annually. This economic boost would revolve around increased demand for the districts' food, transportation and accommodation services.

A combination of improved infrastructure and diversified industry would allow the people of Northern Australia to absorb better the fluctuations in commodity prices. Income would become more reliable, enabling service industries to establish with confidence. More money would consistently enter the community, and it would stay in the community for longer.

Northern Australia would become a more attractive place to live. Australia would benefit.

  1. Pages:
  2. Page 1
  3. All


Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Authors

Annaliese Carrington is from Karumba. During term, she boards at Blackheath & Thornburgh College, Charters Towers.

Ainsley Hoogland is from Winton. During term, she boards at Blackheath & Thornburgh College, Charters Towers.

Janelle Schneekloth is from Cloncurry. During term, she boards at Blackheath & Thornburgh College, Charters Towers.

Related Links
Blackheath and Thornburgh College
Article Tools
Comment Comments
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy