CONTENTS
MEMBERS OF THE REFERENCES COMMITTEE
TERMS OF REFERENCE
INTRODUCTION
LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS
CHAPTER 1
Grasping the issues
Regional disparities in employment
Classification of regions and their problems
The plight of regional Australia
Government actions and responsibilities
CHAPTER 2
Business, Finance and Investment
Regions and globalism
Entrepreneurial and community leadership
Small business
National Competition Policy
Investment in the regions
Industry clusters
Tourism
CHAPTER 3
INFRASTRUCTURE
Transport links
Telecommunications
Business and infrastructure
CHAPTER 4
JOB NETWORK AND LABOUR MARKET PROGRAMS
Job Network and the local community
Competition and collaboration
The tender process and the commercial approach to employment services
Job Network and labour market programs
Dissenting Comments by Government Party Senators on Chapter 4: Job Network
and Labour Market Programs
CHAPTER 5
Education & Training for the regions
The importance of training in the changing employment landscape
Changing times and changing labour markets
Skill shortages
The relevance of training
School vocational education
TAFE – the key to job creation
Training in small and medium sized businesses
CHAPTER 6
THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT
Government as indirect employer
Doubtful past legacies in regional development
Community expectations of government
Historical tendencies toward centralism and uniformity
The State in retreat?
The role of state governments in regional development
Need for State – Commonwealth cooperation
The importance of local government
What can governments do?
What should the Commonwealth do about the regions?
CONCLUSION
APPENDIX 1
A listing of the regional structure adopted by the National Institute
of Economic and Industry Research (NIEIR)
APPENDIX 2
Case Study on Employment and Unemployment in the Northern Rivers Region
of New South Wales
APPENDIX 3
APPENDIX 4
Witnesses who appeared before the Committee at the Public Hearings