Federal Labor will establish a local advisory panel to provide expert advice on the delivery of a Shorten Labor Governments $1 billion Northern Australia Tourism Infrastructure Fund. Labors local advisory panel will include representatives from Darwin and other regional tourism centres like Alice Springs, Katherine, Cairns and Townsville.

The local advisory panel will advise on issues such as:

• Building regional airport capacity;
• Developing cruise ship infrastructure;
• Identifying required road infrastructure;
• Attracting international tourists and international airlines into regional centres;
• Attracting tourists from Asia;
• Developing new experiences and attractions;
• Job-creation opportunities in tourism.

The panel will consist of community leaders, business owners, tourism operators and other important stakeholders to help determine what local projects should receive support under the Fund.

It will be established in the next few months so that it can start providing advice and recommendations to Labor this year and funds can start being delivered as soon as possible in government. Tourism is a key sector of the Territorys economy, employing 17,300 Territorians both directly and indirectly.

The Northern Territory is a world-class tourist destination, but communities which rely on tourism for local jobs are being let down by ageing infrastructure which is not keeping up with the needs of the market.

Labor wants to kick-start a tourism infrastructure boom and a jobs boom for Northern Australia.

Member for Solomon Luke Gosling is also co-hosting a Tourism IdeasFest on 3 March at Darwin International Airport. The day will provide an opportunity to listen and learn from local operators and members of the community who have ideas for new and innovative tourism infrastructure and initiatives.

Territorians who wish to be considered for the local advisory panel are encouraged to write to [email protected] to express interest.