Regional Australia is more than just our food bowl, our fibre hub or the home of the Australian resource sector it is home to millions of hard-working Australians who make a significant contribution to our national identity, our culture and way of life. ‘The bush’ is the lifeline of the modern Australian economy, fulfilling its food, fibre and energy needs.
All the members of the Committee recognise the importance of Australia’s regions and greatly appreciate its communities and businesses. As part of its inquiry it had planned to travel to every State and Territory to visit and hear from regional communities and businesses first-hand about their experiences living and working in regional Australia. The pandemic substantially frustrated the Committee’s ability to travel during this time. It is something that we believe is particularly important and we hope will be able to continue in the near future.
It’s imperative that we continuously seek to improve the lives of regional Australians by investing in better infrastructure, stronger connectivity and additional services in regional areas. At the same time, we need to focus on making regional Australia an attractive place for more Australians to live, work and raise a family.
In order to enhance the liveability of our regional, rural and remote communities and address the challenges of working and living in these areas, the Committee has recommended establishing a dedicated Commonwealth Authority with responsibility for developing and implementing regional policies and programs. The regional authority will provide a whole of government approach coordinating activities across Australian government agencies, different levels of government, public, private, non-profit and community sectors to ensure that there is a nationally consistent plan in the development of regional Australia. Our regions are too important to leave to idiosyncratic and haphazard integration and planning.
To highlight the ongoing value of the regions to Australia the Committee recommends that the appropriate Minister make an annual statement to the House of Representatives outlining progress towards meeting the Commonwealth’s objectives and targets for regional population growth and the development of regional Australia.
It is critical to obtain the views of the Australians living and working in regional, rural and remote communities before, during and after the development of policies and programs that directly affect their lives. It is particularly important that these communities are able to have a voice, be heard in their Parliament and have them considered as part of the policy making process. The Committee has recommended that the House of Representatives establish a Standing Committee on Regional Australia to travel to these regional communities, hear their diverse views and what is important to them, and enable the Parliament to be better informed of community views and attitudes.
Regional businesses form the backbone of the regional economy, which in turn drives Australia’s economy forward. The Committee found that in order for regional businesses to prosper, it was essential for structural and regulatory roadblocks such as red tape and lack of access to skilled workers to be reduced. There is a growing need for more public and private sector partnership to drive innovation and enterprise in regional areas.
As these issues are addressed, more businesses would see the benefit of moving to regional areas for the competitive advantages they offer in terms of reduced operational costs and less congestion compared to urban areas. The Committee recommends that the Australian Government implement a program to highlight the advantages of doing business in regional Australia.
Living, working and investing in regional Australia offers many lifestyle advantages including a diverse range of employment opportunities, housing affordability, lack of congestion and natural amenity.
The Committee has made a number of recommendations aimed at making the prospect of living in regional areas appealing to more Australians including improving access to allied health services for regional Australians, the development of a nationwide infrastructure plan, growing mechanisms to encourage private public partnerships to fund regional infrastructure, and increasing funding for regional universities and greater support for their students.
Regional Australia isn’t a monolithic entity- it comprises a vast and diverse landscape, with different economic and social characteristics. Policymaking needs to take into account the unique economic and social circumstances of a particular area, including local businesses and industries, to address the needs of the people living there. The Committee regards place-based decision making as critical for the successful development of rural, regional and remote Australia.
A strong regional Australia means a stronger and prosperous Australia. Prioritising the development and growth of regional Australia is essential for Australia’s future, not only to fulfil our food and energy requirements but also to ensure the continued prosperity and sustainability of our nation.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who participated in this inquiry through their evidence, both written and verbal. I would also like to thank all the Committee members for their efforts in supporting this inquiry as well as secretariat staff.
Mr Tony Pasin MP
Chair