Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

Regions need a new approach and genuine empowerment

By Simon Crean - posted Friday, 27 April 2007


Federal Labor policy on regional development will be one of the most critical issues which will be debated at the ALP National Conference this week.

Regional Australia faces a range of imminent challenges which include:

  • the reduction in water supply and the critical consequences for regional communities;
  • the challenge to connect all of the nation, not just the cities, to fast, affordable broadband over the Internet, which Labor will address through its commitment to deliver a new broadband network; and
  • ensuring the sustainable development of all of our regions and their natural resource base.
Advertisement

What is crucial for government to recognise is that different regions face different challenges. They also offer our nation a range of opportunities. A one-size-fits-all approach will not work.

I also believe these challenges confirm a new federal approach to regional development is required. One focused on local needs, not just the needs of MPs.

On coming to office the Howard Government declared “it saw no clear rationale or constitutional basis for commonwealth involvement” in regional development. They abolished successful regional programs and their solution was to leave regional development to the states and local government.

This agenda was led by the then Minister for Regional Services and National Party Minister, John Sharp.

If the National Party does not stand for regional development, what does it stand for?

In more recent years, the Howard Government’s approach to regional development has largely been focused on grant-based programs.

Advertisement

But in 2005 the Senate found there were serious failings in transparency and accountability in the administration of these programs. The Government has failed to implement the most important recommendations to address the Parliament’s concerns. As a result, the rorting will continue and Coalition MPs can and will roll out another pork barrel.

Labor supports the Regional Partnerships and Sustainable Regions programs. The need for investment in our regions is compelling.

Labor is committed to restore the highest levels of transparency to regional programs by adopting all of the recommendations from the Senate inquiry.

But greater accountability is only part of the solution. What is needed is a genuine commitment to empower communities.

Regions themselves know what is best for their community. Local communities have an impressive reserve of creativity and enthusiasm but often lack the resources to put it to work. The role for the Commonwealth is to support community champions who have solutions which stack up.

Rather than a centralist, top-down approach to regional development, Labor is committed to a location-specific approach.

It’s an approach which works.

As Minister for Employment, Education and Training I established the Area Consultative Committees (ACCs) to better match training programs with local needs. I appointed local business and community leaders with a genuine commitment to their region to chair them.

With leadership from the regions and resources from government, 300,000 jobs were placed in the last six months of Labor’s term in office. If it worked in one portfolio, why not others?

Interestingly, the Government kept the ACC network in place but they have not maximised the network’s potential to devolve decision-making to regions.

Labor will maximise that potential. Labor will create Regional Development Australia (RDA) to build the capacity of the ACCs and create a stronger and more participatory regional development network. They will be better able to develop strategic plans to determine regional priorities in partnership with the local community and will be better resourced so they can plan for the longer term.

They will also play an essential role in identifying their regional infrastructure priorities and the national infrastructure council to be set up by Labor, Infrastructure Australia, will be required to consult with them.

The network does not serve to replace local government but to value-add it. Local governments across Australia recognise the need to achieve regional outcomes to find opportunities and meet challenges. RDA will build the invaluable partnerships across shire boundaries between public, private and community sectors.

This is happening already in some regions but we must ensure all regions benefit from regional partnerships.

Regional Development Australia will also provide a forum for people who wish to make a significant contribution to their local community but who wish to do so through a mechanism other than by being elected to government. We must continue to support them.

Another key element in the Labor regional platform is to bring regional policy into mainstream policy-making rather than just hive off regional development into a separate program.

Regional challenges and opportunities such as water, climate change, health and economic development will not be addressed by simply defining the responsibilities of the various tiers and departments of government.

There must be a genuine commitment to localism to enable governments to respond with flexibility to local concerns and to provide a mechanism to ensure governments and departments work together.

Labor will address this with a commitment to break down the national budget by region to identify how much the key portfolios, such as health and education, are spending in each region.

A spatial approach to the national budget will not only produce greater accountability but it will allow regions to have input on the allocation of all funds for better service delivery in their region, not just regional programs.

It has been proven that resources are used more effectively when all levels of government work together, rather than the endless blame game. This funding model would provide a framework to drive co-ordination of Federal programs and look holistically at a region’s needs.

Local communities must have a greater say in how their needs can be met and provide a mechanism by which key portfolios can respond with flexibility to innovative solutions. regional bodies should be given a decision-making capacity about the distribution of these funds.

Labor has a proud record in delivering successful and innovative programs for regional Australia.

My colleagues and I are committed to develop a new regional model which genuinely seeks to empower regions by supporting local solutions and ensuring regional concerns are not fringe issues, but are at the forefront of policy making.

We must harness the potential of each and every Australian region. The future of our regions and the nation depend on it.

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. All


Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

18 posts so far.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Author

Simon Crean is the Federal Shadow Trade and Regional Development Minister.

Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Photo of Simon Crean
Article Tools
Comment 18 comments
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy