Australian Immigration Daily News

So....Kevin Rudd is planning to develop the NT and QLD all of a sudden.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has just told the world of his plans for northern Australia, including a special "economic zone" complete with company tax cuts (but only if his government is re-elected).  Given the investment from Chinese nationals which will likely pour into this area, does Rudd have a plan for special category visas to match the new '"zone"?  And where exactly is this "zone" and where is the policy paper that goes with it?  Is this just another thought bubble where Rudd is off on a jaunt of his own?  Surely he has consulted with Aboriginals who are the original owners of the land to obtain their thoughts on the 'economic zone'.

It will take more than just 'imagination' to develop this area.

The Prime Minister said his plan was based on three pillars.

This first would be to create a special economic zone focused on the Nothern Territory.
My comment: Aboriginal input?

The company tax cut had not yet been costed.

My comment: Why not?

The Prime Minister told reporters that his preference was to see a tax rate in the NT of about a third off the current rate of 30 per cent, but he said that this would be discussed with the NT government after the election.

My comment: After the election Labor will likely not be in Government and therefore this will not be implemented, so pie in sky, so is this just a ploy to win votes and maintain seats in NT?

The second pillar would be an expansion of the Ord River irrigation scheme stage three. This would involve an extra $10 million to deal with native title negotiations to secure the land required.

My comment: So he is presuming that Aboriginals in NT and native title negotiations will be all positive and that everyone will agree with this imagining -  but Rudd has not asked them yet?

He said that the expansion of the Ord would increase the economic output of northern Australia by an estimated $150 million year, mostly through expanded sugar production and agricultural crops.

My comment: Yes if he gets native title agreements - get permission first I say!

The third pillar would be a 20-year growth plans for Darwin and north Queensland (Cairns, Townsville and Mackay) with oversight by Infrastructure Australia.

My comment: Today I saw a tweet by Latika Bourke, to which I replied -  which I will copy it all here:

    11:57 AM - 15 Aug 13
   
    Latika Bourke ‏@latikambourke 2h

PM Rudd - wants to focus on major boost in Chinese tourists to Cairns as part of Northern QLD plan. Mining for Mackay. #AusVotes

11:59 AM - 15 Aug 13

Migration Alliance ‏@lianaallan 2h

@latikambourke Then maybe he should ask @DaveNoonanCFMEU to stop running an anti-foreign worker / 457 campaign across the rest of Australia.

Mr Rudd said that anyone who lived in the NT who thought they were on a level playing field with the rest of Australia ''has got rocks in their head''.

My comment: Well that's one way of inspiring Australians in the Northern Territory to participate.  Make the people of the NT feel like they are utter crap why don't you, and that will force them to keep up with the Jones (in the states next door).

''It costs more to be up here,'' he said, explaining it was so far away.

My comment: Does it?  Where are the stats on that comment Rudd?

Mr Rudd said that the creation of the economic zone would attract Australian and foreign investment by simplifying investment rules and streamlining regulation.

My comment: And simplifying the visa process for people wishing to move there?  How about 457 visas?  If they want foreign investment then he better tell Dave Noonan and the CFMEU and unions to stop giving foreign workers a hard time with their billboard ads everywhere.  See below.  I say no more.

When asked if the northern plan was a bid to gain preferences from Katter's Australian Party, Mr Rudd answered, ''no''.

My comment: B*%#&^

Tony Abbott says, ''We've just seen an extraordinary press conference from Mr Rudd in Darwin where first of all he said he wanted to deliver an entirely uncosted tax cut for all the businesses in the Northern Territory,'' Mr Abbott said.

My comment: Abbott is right here.  The operative word is 'uncosted'.

''Then it suddenly became all businesses in Darwin, then it became businesses in the Northern Territory but only businesses that were actually based in the Northern Territory as opposed to operating in the Northern Territory.

''It's just another thought bubble from a prime minister who had a plan to tear down his predecessor but he doesn't have a plan to develop our country; he doesn’t have a plan to grow our economy.''

My comment:  Yes it does appear to be a thought bubble more concerned with preferences from Katter's Australian party.  It is pretty transparent.

''I understand Mr Abbott has talked about a white paper,'' Mr Rudd said.

My comment: Well that would be a good place to start I think.  Instead of just bursting out with a whim of a thought and hoping that everyone will come in behind him and just 'make it happen' in the NT.  By the way which post-codes will be included in this?  Did anyone else in the Labor party know about this before it was announced?

Read more on this here:

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/rudd-pledges-lowtax-zone-for-nt-20130815-2ry8d.html

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/federal-election-2013/tax-cuts-economic-zone-part-of-kevin-rudds-plans-to-develop-northern-australia-20130815-2rybz.html