Regional development hinges on Local Gov
ISSUES impeding the growth of rural and remote regions have come under the spotlight of the Australian Farm Institute’s latest edition of the Farm Policy Journal.
"Unfortunately, continuing confusion about the roles of Commonwealth and State Governments, and a lack of any real decision-making power at the regional level, are serious impediments for regions that wish to undertake development initiatives," the executive director of the Australian Farm Institute Mick Keogh reported.
The six papers contained with the journal scrutinise regional development policies, citing strong locally-based decision-making and more equitable services as possible solutions to the population drift away from non-metro centres.
Mr Keogh said the authors of the papers had all mentioned two major factors that have the ability to limit the potential of rural areas.
"Some of the biggest challenges for these regions lie in the ability to access services and infrastructure, like health care, education, social security and support networks.
"This presents a particular challenge in a highly urbanised nation such as Australia, with large distances between many communities and high travel costs.
"Even where there is strong potential for regional growth, poor access to services can be a critical factor limiting development.
"It is difficult attracting skilled workers to service-deficient areas.
"Secondly, government centralisation is having more and more of an influence on regional policy areas.
"The State Government has less control over taxes, so less ability to distribute funds.
"Therefore the Commonwealth Government has a big role in regional development policies, creating all sorts of problems for non-metro areas."
Mr Keogh believes that many important State and Local Government issues are being lost on the Commonwealth.
"The Commonwealth Government has an increased share in resources, however has very little contact with regional areas.
"State and Local issues are slipping through the gaps.
"Local Governments are under increasing pressure from their communities and are experiencing a squeeze in funding.
"They are less able to make decisions, making it difficult to keep local initiatives going."
The journal features papers written by authors of vary backgrounds, including regional policy managers, professors and local government executives.
The journal also compares the Australian Government’s approach to regional development with rural development policies of the European Union.
"Papers contributed by Australian Transport and Regional Affairs Minister Warren Truss and the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Regional Development Marianne Fischer Boel highlight the contrasting policy approaches adopted in these two countries," Mr Keogh said.
"European policy approaches are much more interventionalist, with expenditure focused on assisting regional areas to adjust to changing economic circumstances, reduce regional income disadvantage, foster the development of new industries and improve regional environments.
"Australian policy approaches focus more on building regional capacity indirectly and facilitating regional directives."
"Unfortunately, continuing confusion about the roles of Commonwealth and State Governments, and a lack of any real decision-making power at the regional level, are serious impediments for regions that wish to undertake development initiatives," the executive director of the Australian Farm Institute Mick Keogh reported.
The six papers contained with the journal scrutinise regional development policies, citing strong locally-based decision-making and more equitable services as possible solutions to the population drift away from non-metro centres.
Mr Keogh said the authors of the papers had all mentioned two major factors that have the ability to limit the potential of rural areas.
"Some of the biggest challenges for these regions lie in the ability to access services and infrastructure, like health care, education, social security and support networks.
"This presents a particular challenge in a highly urbanised nation such as Australia, with large distances between many communities and high travel costs.
"Even where there is strong potential for regional growth, poor access to services can be a critical factor limiting development.
"It is difficult attracting skilled workers to service-deficient areas.
"Secondly, government centralisation is having more and more of an influence on regional policy areas.
"The State Government has less control over taxes, so less ability to distribute funds.
"Therefore the Commonwealth Government has a big role in regional development policies, creating all sorts of problems for non-metro areas."
Mr Keogh believes that many important State and Local Government issues are being lost on the Commonwealth.
"The Commonwealth Government has an increased share in resources, however has very little contact with regional areas.
"State and Local issues are slipping through the gaps.
"Local Governments are under increasing pressure from their communities and are experiencing a squeeze in funding.
"They are less able to make decisions, making it difficult to keep local initiatives going."
The journal features papers written by authors of vary backgrounds, including regional policy managers, professors and local government executives.
The journal also compares the Australian Government’s approach to regional development with rural development policies of the European Union.
"Papers contributed by Australian Transport and Regional Affairs Minister Warren Truss and the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Regional Development Marianne Fischer Boel highlight the contrasting policy approaches adopted in these two countries," Mr Keogh said.
"European policy approaches are much more interventionalist, with expenditure focused on assisting regional areas to adjust to changing economic circumstances, reduce regional income disadvantage, foster the development of new industries and improve regional environments.
"Australian policy approaches focus more on building regional capacity indirectly and facilitating regional directives."
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