A former chief minister of the Northern Territory will lead the latest efforts to draw more economic value from the northern half of Australia.

Former NT chief minister Shane Stone has been named chairman of a group advising the Federal Government on ways to develop the north, and he says political leaders will have to take their ideas seriously.

The 11-person advisory panel will provide advice to both state and federal governments, defining a vision along six policy areas set out by the Federal Government.

Efforts will be made to improve water use, boost investment in infrastructure, and generally encourage growth in northern Australia.

The other Northern Australia Advisory Group members are Wayne Bergmann, Jack Burton, Dr Ken Chapman, Professor Sandra Harding, Noeline Ikin, David Menzel, Nicholas Paspaley, Trent Twomey, Ken Warriner and Djawa Yunupingu. Their biographies are accessible here. 

Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss yesterday released the green paper on developing northern Australia, with six key focus areas.

Truss has outlined the following goals to;

  • Develop a food bowl, including premium produce, which could help to double Australia's agricultural output;
  • Build an energy export industry worth $150 billion to the economy, with a major focus on clean and efficient energy, providing major increases to resource exports; and
  • Grow the tourist economy in northern Australia to 2 million international tourists a year.