Communiqués
Regional Development Council
30 July 2003, Canberra
Australian, state and territory regional development ministers and the president of the Australian Local Government Association met on 30 July 2003 for the inaugural meeting of the Regional Development Council (RDC). Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport and Regional Services, the Hon John Anderson MP chaired the meeting.
Foundations for investment in the regions
The Council agreed that its role was to facilitate more effective cooperation across all spheres of government to achieve sustainable economic, social and environmental outcomes for regional Australia.
The meeting's key theme was Foundations for Investment in the Regions. Chair of the Australian Bankers' Association, Mr John McFarlane, made a presentation to the Council in which he provided an overview of the factors inhibiting investment and lending in the regions and the role that governments can play in improving investment conditions.
Mr McFarlane highlighted the importance of partnerships between governments, banks and communities in promoting growth and prosperity in regional Australia. Governments and banks have opportunities to help small businesses in regional Australia get investment ready and captalise on projects that benefit local communities.
Specific issues dealt with by the Council were:
Regional Business Development Analysis
Chair of the independent Regional Business Development Analysis (RBDA) panel, Dr John Keniry, briefed the Council on the RBDA. The RBDA was an initiative announced under the Australian Government's Stronger Regions, a Stronger Australia statement in August 2001. Members discussed the importance of access to finance for small business in regional development.
Members agreed to provide comment on the action plan when released, and for the Standing Committee on Regional Development to report back to Council at its next meeting.
Skilled migration
Skilled migration provides significant opportunities to address skill shortages in regional Australia. Members discussed opportunities to make better use of existing skilled migration programmes.
The Council agreed to further explore and encourage the utilisation of skilled migration programs as one means of addressing skills shortages in regional areas and facilitating regional development. Members also agreed to work with their colleagues to raise awareness of the importance of skilled migration programs to support regional development.
Infrastructure
The Council discussed three key regional infrastructure issues: energy, AusLink and telecommunications.
Members discussed the importance of natural gas reticulation to regional development and Ministers agreed to write to their colleagues on the Ministerial Council on Energy in support of a number of recommendations from the COAG Energy Market Review (the Parer report), in particular those relating to the gas network in regional areas' pipelines.
Members also noted AusLink - the Australian Governments proposed new strategic approach to an integrated road and rail network.
Members discussed the importance of telecommunications to regional Australia and regional development.
Water reform
Members discussed the benefits of water reform for regional areas, and canvassed issues including improved water security and better water trading arrangements. Members agreed that communities would need to be supported in this change. Members will continue to engage with Premiers, Treasurers and their natural resource management colleagues to assist with the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) deliberations on water reform set for late August 2003, to ensure that regional interests are considered in the deliberations. The Australian Government highlighted the importance of water reform to investment confidence for regional Australia.
Cooperation among regional development agencies
The Council endorsed the revised Framework for Cooperation on Regional Development which provides methods for improving the way regional development agencies work together. Members agreed to undertake work to further enhance the way that regional development organisations, such as regional development boards and area consultative committees, work together.
Indigenous Action Plan
The Council endorsed the Indigenous Action Plan, a requirement for all Ministerial councils under the Council of Australian Governments (COAG). The Indigenous Action Plan proposes to build on existing initiatives such as the COAG Indigenous trials, the Australian Government's Sustainable Regions Program, and promoting partnerships between all governments, regional development authorities and Indigenous organisations and communities.
Zonal taxation
Council agreed that the original objectives of the zone tax rebate, to support those in genuinely remote areas, be taken into account by the Australian Government when it considers the Regional Business Development Analysis Action Plan.
Regional universities
Members discussed the Australian Government's recently released report on higher education and the impact this may have on funding for regional universities. Ministers noted the importance of regional universities to regional development.
