Northern Australia Land and Water Taskforce

The ONA is providing the secretariat for the Northern Australia Land and Water Taskforce. This requires extensive consultation with the Chair of the Taskforce, Mr Joe Ross.

Taskforce Members:
Mr Joe Ross (Chair)	Dr Rosemary Hill	Mr Michael Roche
Mr David Baffsky AO	Dr Andrew Johnson	Mrs Terry Underwood OAM
Dr Stuart Blanch	Mr Richard Ah Mat	Prof Bob Wasson
Mr David Crombie	Ms Shirley McPherson	Mr Wali Wunungmurra
Ms Elaine Gardiner	Mr Lachlan Murdoch

ONA is also responsible for:

Organising Taskforce members to visit northern Australia for Taskforce meetings and to consult stakeholders;
Organising Taskforce members to inspect key aspects of northern Australia land and water resources;
Arranging for funding the CSIRO to undertake the detailed scientific work required by the Taskforce. ONA will also offer assistance to the Taskforce as directed in the drafting of the report.

Attendance at Taskforce meetings also enabled ONA staff to consult directly with stakeholders.

The Taskforce meeting held on 21-22 April in Weipa gave ONA staff the opportunity to meet with stakeholders in Cairns, with indigenous Australians near Weipa and with operators of the Rio Tinto mine at Weipa.

www.australia.gov.au/economicstimulus will keep Australians informed about the Australian economy and the Australian Government's early and decisive action to cushion the nation from the worst of the global financial recession. The website will provide information and updates on the progress of the $42 billion Nation Building-Economic Stimulus Plan.