Date Time
Backing jobs and exports in north Queensland
Joint media release with Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia Keith Pitt, and Senator for Queensland Susan McDonald
The Coalition Government is backing the expansion of a fertiliser company in north Queensland to help grow its exports and create jobs for current and future generations.
Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia Keith Pitt said the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) has now approved a $71 million loan to Agripower Australia Ltd, to upgrade infrastructure and improve access to its mine site near Greenvale, and its processing plant near Charters Towers.
Date Time
Government supporting expanded beef industry in Queensland
The Coalition Government is continuing to bolster local industry with the financial close of a $24 million Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) loan to Signature Onfarm that will secure the expansion of the beef industry in central Queensland.
Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia Keith Pitt said this NAIF loan, which has already begun to be drawn down, will enable Signature Onfarm to build beef processing facilities and on-site employee accommodation near Clermont in Queensland.
“The expansion of these facilities will benefit the central Queensland cattle industry, and will create much needed jobs in the region as Australia recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
Premium Content
Subscriber only LABOR has praised the Australian Government for ringing in the changes to its often-criticised $5 million federal loans scheme to get the money flowing towards more Northern Australia infrastructure projects sooner. Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia Keith Pitt said his government was determined to transform the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) into a more proactive investor for the benefit of Northern Australia. Keith Pitt and Michelle Landry have responded to the findings of a Senate Inquiry by instituting recommended changes to the NAIF. The changes will speed up the flow of funds to approved projects, give projects a greater range of debt-support options, and allow NAIF to make equity investments, Mr Pitt said.