Prime Minister Scott Morrison, together with Western Australia and Queensland Premiers Mark McGowan and Annastacia Palaszczuk, and Chief Minister of the Northern Territory Michael Gunner, have signed a new agreement aimed at advancing Indigenous economic development in Northern Australia.

The Northern Australia Indigenous Development Accord developed in consultation with the Indigenous Reference Group (IRG) to the Ministerial Forum on Northern Development, was launched yesterday in Katherine. It recognises the need for more focused engagement between governments, communities, individuals and industry to achieve Indigenous aspirations.

Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Hon Ken Wyatt AM MP and Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Senator the Hon Matthew Canavan were in Katherine for the launch.

“The Accord sets out the commitment of governments to strengthen Indigenous economic participation in this nationally significant development agenda,” Minister Wyatt said.

Members of the IRG also attended the launch, with Peter Yu calling the Accord “a landmark agreement and milestone achievement in moving toward more equitable participation of Indigenous people in the Northern Australian economy.”

Indigenous participation is critical to increasing productivity, encouraging investment and realising the full potential of the North, and the Accord lays out a framework and implementation plan for achieving this.

Read the Northern Australia Indigenous Development Accord

Read the Minister’s announcement