Given the poor quality of essential and municipal infrastructure in many remote communities, the cost of ensuring a tiere  d minimum infrastructure standard in the largest 50 communities would require a very substantial capital spend (in the hundreds of millions of dollars). While it is likely that such expenditure would be spread across 20 years given the number of communities and their remote locations, it would still represent a major fiscal challenge. On the other hand, if living conditions are not improved and household responsibilities are not normalised, the status quo will remain and family wellbeing and public health may worsen.

The State Government would seek to sequence such an investment by prioritising communities that have:

• families and leaders who have demonstrated a willingness to ensure children are safe and in school, and adults are in work
• business or work opportunities in or near the community
• the capacity to be utilised as a service hub for smaller communities
• no natural limitations on growth (e.g. sufficient safe and natural water supply)
• effective governance, or a willingness to strengthen community governance.