These principles were supported as capturing the key elements of a successful future for the North by the 90 or so participants representing around 50 organisations and 8 sectors at the Northern Australian Futures Roundtable:

• A resilient, diverse and sustainable economy for Northern Australia is necessary to underpin the wellbeing of its communities, the long-term management of its resources and its contribution to society
• Northern Australia’s unique, intact and globally-significant natural and cultural values must be recognised, utilised and safeguarded as central to its future
• Indigenous interests must be recognised, and northern development and socio-economic development need to be pursued together, since neither is sustainable, nor equitable, without the other
• Development options must involve genuine collaboration with local communities and be compatible with local cultures and conditions