Great article Gavan.

< In September, Tony Abbott announced that if elected the coalition would pursue an ambitious plan to double agricultural production by the middle of the century, through a network of new dams across Australia's north. >

I would have thought it virtually impossible to achieve, but Abbott has managed it, and done it decisively. That is; he’s shown the libs to be significantly worse than the incumbent government!!

Heavens to Murgatroid, how can he possibly espouse such a thing as a doubling of agricultural output….. in this country where we have pushed it to the max and beyond, with enormous consequences; in the Murray/Darling, WA wheatbelt, Qld Brigalow Belt and the rest.

Oh, if ONLY the Greens presented a viable alternative that could attract the votes of all those concerned about a sustainable future, to the extent of winning power in their own right. But alas, the Groans are barely any better than the Liblabs!

< Alternatively, Australia could lead the way in developing a conservation economy for northern Australia. >

Absolutely!

< It will be no easy task. The notion that national prosperity is inextricably tied to exploiting our natural resources is deeply engrained in our national psyche. >

It should actually be a relatively easy thing to achieve. The problem is not the national psyche, but the atrocious ‘beholdenness’ of our government (of whichever persuasion) to big business and to continuous rapid never-ending growth… and thus to gross ‘antisustainability’!

continued

We are indeed in a sweet spot with the mining boom. It gives us the means to develop a sustainable society, not just in the north, but for the whole country.

All we need is the right political entity, espousing genuine sustainability, with a stable population as a core requirement, and we’re away!

I think the majority of Australian citizens are hanging out for a third party that they can actually support, rather than the current situation of having to vote for which ever they think is the slightly lesser of two evils.

If old Bob Brown was to retire and someone (who?) with a bit of a better sense of sustainability was to lead the Greens, and they really got behind a coherent plan for a sustainable country, then they’d get massive support and win outright power.

The struggle would then be between the populace demanding a sustainable future and the old traditional big-business high-pressure vested-interest rapid-expansionist push, which governments have kowtowed to for decades.

Perhaps then the Libs and Labs would start competing to be the most sustainability-oriented party.

Oh dear, I do like to dream! ( :>|

Ludwig
What policies would you put in place, and how would you define a successful outcome?

The length of the mining boom will be determined by China's economic development, not Australia's policies. If we try to draw out the boom by slowing mining growth, all we'll do is lose market share to Brazil, Qatar etc. We'll also miss out on the opportunity - which will not last more than a few years - to benefit from Australia's best terms of trade for more than a century.

I agree with Rhian. There is a time in the tides of men ....

The author's objectives are noble and worthy, in terms of responsible northern development, and in the just recognition and respect for indigenous interests, development and future wellbeing; and current economic circumstance does provide an opportunity to do the right thing. One should not despoil that which is irreplaceable and of high cultural and environmental value and significance, purely in the name of quick profits, and certainly not when a host of far more acceptable alternatives exist.

I hope the author's aspirations for the north may be realised. To do otherwise would be a sad indictment on our governance and our society at large. The author's vision should also provide a key to possibilities for many other areas of heritage, cultural and national significance. Fingers crossed. Conscience, integrity, vision.

Com on ludwig, show us your policies, you have the nation waiting. Au is a sweet spot, the knockers would disagree, We are an island and that is insulation, The world around us is falling apart, the extent that we get effected by is unsure. If only Australians would bye more Australian content, it would benefit us greatly. Govt policy is not every-thing.
You can lead a horse to water but!