Northern Australia is different to the rest of the country.
The construction of infrastructure is more complex and more costly.
But the benefits can be transformational not only for our national economy, our local economy, but also for the well-being of our people, the people of northern Australia that inhabit a vast area of land going from north-west Western Australia all the way through to Queensland.
And representing a slice of northern Australia in this place means that I am very aware of the need for a greater focus on the challenges and opportunities of delivering infrastructure in the north.
Now this pre-election budget that was handed down on Tuesday has some funds for infrastructure in the Northern Territory and that is of course welcome.
But what sort of spending are we talking about?
Forget the figures, but what is the quality and the impact on the ground?
Forget the fact that most of this proposed spending is way out on the never-never.
What is real in this infrastructure spend and what is actually going to help our local economies as well as our national sovereignty?
How many of these dollars will end up in the pockets of Northern Territory workers and their families and local businesses?
To answer this question, look, let's just have a quick look at what some stakeholders in the Territory had to say.
Dave Malone, the CEO of Master Builders NT, was sceptical of how the money will be spent, and believes the tendering process will be geared towards large interstate firms rather than local businesses.
Tom Harris is the CEO of the Civil Contractors Federation of the NT.
He, like all of us, welcomed the infrastructure spending in the budget, but was also concerned about the use of local labour employment opportunities for locals and small firms.
Tom wants to see more planning associated with the tendering process and I couldn't agree more.
As Deputy Chair of the Standing Committee on Infrastructure, Transport and Cities, we are tabling a report this morning on government procurement.
A key recommendation of this report calls on the government to examine ways to provide opportunities in infrastructure contracting for local industry and the utilisation of local content and creating space for small and medium enterprises to participate.
That's because they overwhelmingly employ locals, creating opportunities for small and medium enterprises.
For infrastructure projects is absolutely vital to make sure that the national spend that has been committed will flow through to not only Territorians but those living throughout northern Australia, and Labor will make sure that that occurs.
