Cape York leaders are reserving judgement on a federal government decision to axe the Northern Australia committee which guided growth and community development across the region for almost a decade.

Shadow Minister for Northern Australia, Senator Susan McDonald, said the Labor government had “abandoned” the economically diverse region at a critical time.

“This region … produces more than 94 per cent of Australia’s bananas, 93 per cent of Australia’s mangoes, 12.5 million beef cattle and makes up 90 per cent of Australia’s live cattle exports,” she said.

“It is the frontline for Australia’s defence and biosecurity, and the strength of its vast resources provides well-paid jobs, supports the economy and is the back-bone of dozens of small regional towns and thousands of associated businesses.”

But Torres and Cape Indigenous Councils Alliance chair Robbie Sands said the committee had failed to deliver better outcomes for Cape York.

“What we need is a genuine commitment to addressing the social and economic disadvantages faced by our remote Indigenous communities,” Cr Sands said.

“At the very least that means proper investments in new housing, better connectivity, healthy people, and sustainable livelihoods.

“We are hopeful that the new committees set up to look at First Nations issues will drive far better outcomes for us.”

Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch said the committee had served the interests of Indigenous Australians through its inquiry into Rio Tinto’s destruction of Juukan Gorge in the Pilbara.

“In my opinion that was the only committee that could have done that as well as we did,” Mr Entsch said.

“As former chair of this committee, I am extremely disappointed that the new Labor government does not see its importance.”

A spokesperson for Northern Australia Minister Madeleine King said the work of the committee would fall under two other committees.

This article appeared in Cape York Weekly, 2 August 2022.

Related story: Northern Australia back on Federal agenda: McDonald