LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS
Recommendation 1
The Committee recommends local government and state based regional
development bodies should be encouraged to become more involved with the
operations of ACCs. Regular meetings between these organisations would
enable discussions about how prospective proposals could be implemented
and how best they can be coordinated between the various organisations
to avoid duplicated effort. (Paragraph 2.34)
Recommendation 2
The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth Government take
a coordinating role in the dissemination of information to local businesses
of the range of assistance measures available to them. This information
should be made available through a wide variety of mediums such as ACCs,
websites, the ATO and regional services centres operated by state and
Commonwealth government. (Paragraph 2.50)
Recommendation 3
The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth investigate strategies
for attracting increased investment to regional Australia. (Paragraph
2.78)
Recommendation 4
The Committee recommends governments of all levels place a higher
priority on the provision of adequate infrastructure in regional Australia.
This includes telecommunications, transport, gas, electricity, water,
sewerage, renewable energy and gas pipeline infrastructure. (Paragraph
3.37)
Recommendation 5
The Committee recommends that road funding formulae be re-examined
with a view to placing a higher priority on regional development. (Paragraph
3.37)
Recommendation 6
The majority of the Committee recommends that the government be
more vigilant in the interests of remote populations in their access to
telecommunications facilities, which should be viewed not simply as a
commercial issue but as a civic entitlement guaranteed by the state. (Paragraph
3.38)
Government senators do not agree with this recommendation.
Recommendation 7
The majority of the Committee recommend that the remaining one
third of Telstra not be privatised. (Paragraph 3.38)
Government senators do not agree with this recommendation.
Recommendation 8
The majority of the Committee recommends that the funding for
programs that were cashed out, such as fares assistance, relocation assistance
and formal training allowance be reinstated as guaranteed allowances on
top of the money allocated for job search assistance. (Paragraph 4.40)
Government senators do not agree with this recommendation.
Recommendation 9
The majority of the Committee recommends that the NEIS program
should be expanded and further investigation be made into the effects
of unbridled competition in the provision of employment services. (Paragraph
4.62)
Government senators do not agree with this recommendation.
Recommendation 10
The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth investigate strategies
to facilitate the provision of structured training opportunities and the
implementation of appropriate accredited training packages to alleviate
skill shortages in regional areas. (Paragraph 5.24)
Recommendation 11
The majority of the Committee recommends that an independent monitoring
body (similar to the former Employment Services Regulatory Authority)
be established to oversee the operation of Job Network and monitor such
issues as training provision and make regular public reports. (Paragraph
5.39)
Government senators do not support this recommendation and believe that
the responsibility for monitoring should remain within the Department
of Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business.
Recommendation 12
The Committee recommends that additional funding support for TAFE
providers be negotiated with the states to improve the provision of structured
training opportunities to meet changing local market opportunities. (Paragraph
5.63)
Recommendation 13
The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth evaluate the use
of training incentives in meeting the needs of regional industries for
increased structured training opportunities in categories of high employment
growth. (Paragraph 5.78)
Recommendation 14
The Committee recommends that local government must play a pivotal
role in the coordination of any future regional development policy. (Paragraph
6.73)
Recommendation 15
The Committee recommends that a forum, similar to the Regional
Australia Summit, should be convened periodically. The programming and
arrangements for these events should involve all levels of government.
(Paragraph 6.90)
Recommendation 16
The Committee recommends the establishment of a Ministerial Council
on regional development involving all three spheres of government on the
COAG model. The Council should meet regularly to establish policy priorities
for regional development and discuss policy impacts on regional Australia.
The consultative forum would then report directly to the Ministerial Council.
(Paragraph 6.90)