Focus: Investing in Industries and Local Economies:

The Christmas Island Economic Future Working Group (EFWG) was established in 2024 by the Indian Ocean Territories Regional Development Organisation (IOT RDO) and the Office of the Administrator of Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands as a cross-agency partnership with the Shire of Christmas Island, Phosphate Resources Ltd, Parks Australia, Christmas Island Tourism Association, Christmas Island Business Association, IOT Administration, and community members. It provides a collaborative forum to identify practical solutions to the island’s economic challenges, including economic stability and diversification in a post-mining economy, and build a shared vision for its future.

The EFWG’s work is grounded in the Christmas Island 2030 Strategic Plan and focuses on priorities requiring coordinated action across government, industry and community. The IOT RDO has funded ‘C Change Solutions’ to facilitate the EFWG since establishment, supporting the Group to build consensus and translate priorities into practical projects.

The EFWG identified four priority areas:

• Addressing derelict and underutilised buildings and accommodation in response to housing shortages and limited commercial space
• Developing a priority infrastructure plan to support key development sites
• Developing a priority infrastructure plan to facilitate opportunities in the natural environment
• Investigating how to support young people on Christmas Island through infrastructure and support services.

In January 2026, the IOT RDO engaged Business Foundations, a consultancy firm, to support implementation of this work. The engagement produced the Christmas Island Spatial Platform, a live spatial data system consolidating building, land tenure and infrastructure records, including asbestos information relevant to development costs. It also produced 21 prioritised recommendations and a Table of Actions assigning leads, contributors and timeframes.

Together, these outputs established a practical pathway for Christmas Island’s economic transition while progressing near-term opportunities. The EFWG is now moving into delivery, with the Spatial Platform providing an enduring evidence base for coordinated decision-making and the Table of Actions creating an accountable pipeline of projects.