Soundly based economic and regional development is fundamental to the wellbeing of Australian communities. Effective local government participation is vital to the success of economic development initiatives, and local councils, singly or in groups, have long been at the forefront of such initiatives. They have allocated large amounts of time, energy and resources to promoting economic growth in their areas, and have forged valuable partnerships with business, unions and other key players.
Local government fosters economic and regional development through a range of measures such as:
effective strategic planning and coordination
streamlining controls on job generating development
supporting local business
providing essential infrastructure and services, including through joint ventures
identifying investment opportunities
promoting tourism
promoting cultural and recreational resources as an incentive for regional investment
It is essential that these efforts continue. Local government calls on Commonwealth, state and territory governments and all those involved to recognise and support its role in regional and economic development. Central governments must ensure local government involvement in policy and program decision making at all levels.
Local government seeks balanced national development:
by facilitating development of regional centres as alternatives to metropolitan growth
by promoting sub-metropolitan centres in middle and outer suburbs
by sustaining and strengthening rural and remote (desert) Australia
by all levels of government striving to maintain industry and population in regional and rural Australia
ensuring regional communities have equal access to higher education
Local government will work with state/territory and Commonwealth governments to plan for regional economic development and for the delivery of appropriate programs, with local government playing a leadership role by setting and managing its own agenda for the benefit of regional stakeholders, and by bringing together other key players.
Federal government policy must achieve appropriate macroeconomic settings as well as promote initiatives which:
enhance the capacity of regions to compete in the global economy and meet domestic demand
strengthen the economic base of regions, particularly through investment in roads, transport, communications and other infrastructure
attract investment to stimulate traditional industries in regions and also to develop new and emerging industries
increase employment opportunities through proactive programs, providing the necessary skills base in growth industries
enhance the cultural and social values of regional communities, so as to maintain and enhance the quality of life
redress any inequitable distribution of the nation's wealth and ensure fair access to government services and programs
protect and improve the environmental quality of regions, ensuring sustainable approaches to regional development
empower local and regional communities and recognise the vital role that local government plays in these processes
Cooperation between governments is essential to prevent a multiplicity of inappropriate single purpose administrative structures being established for specific functions and programs. Governments must understand the adverse impact on regions produced by a proliferation of regional structures. Local government supports the use of multilateral agreements between governments and agencies to improve service planning, funding and delivery.
More attention must be given to enhancing communication between regional stakeholders and developing a shared vision. This is essential to ensure public funds are spent on achieving mutually agreed outcomes and maximising the contribution of all governments to regional development. To facilitate this process, governments should move away from centralised decision-making and empower regions by enhancing the role of existing regional structures and local government.
At the local level:
successful previous initiatives such as the Commonwealth's Local Capital Works and Strengthening Local Economic Capacity programs should be used as models for future efforts
councils should be enabled to pursue appropriate business ventures, alone or in partnership with the private sector
councils should be enabled to make adequate provision of essential infrastructure, including transportation and roads, to underpin economic development
increased weight should be placed on the economic importance of community services, cultural development and environmental management programs
Local government's efforts to achieve integration of social, environmental and economic objectives through Local Agenda 21 should be supported by federal government
The federal government should reintroduce a major program of assistance grants for regional development. This should incorporate:
a strong focus on implementation of practical initiatives rather than preparation of further generalised strategies
basing regions on established communities of interest, either individually or grouped
building on the work of existing regional bodies, particularly Voluntary Regional Organisations of Councils (VROCs), and avoiding the creation of unnecessary additional structures
flexible administration of program guidelines, in consultation with local government and other key players
integrating economic development with other policy areas, especially social development and environmental management
recognising state/territory sovereignty and clearly desisting from moves toward regional government
developing a package of incentives for application to investment proposals which would have significant beneficial impacts on regional economies including for example, the development of Enterprise Zones
Substantial additional federal funding will be required to support effective regional development efforts. A further major investment in strategic infrastructure, including roads, is particularly necessary. Recent excessive cutbacks to funding for infrastructure and services must be reversed.
Provision of appropriate and affordable housing should be seen by governments as a key element of regional development initiatives. Additional public housing should be provided in regional areas to facilitate employment growth, and rents should reflect local income levels.
Local government calls for completion and implementation of an effective strategy to address regional development issues and locational disadvantage north of the 26th Parallel.
The federal government should review the potential for adverse impacts on regional development arising from the excessive use of 'fly-in, fly-out' mining operations.
Consideration should be given to Fringe Benefits Tax changes and hypothecation of a share of mining royalties/taxes for infrastructure improvements, as means of fostering the growth of local townships to house mining families.
High quality telecommunications services, including online services, must be extended to all parts of Australia on an equitable basis as an essential element of sustainable economic and regional development. Local government endorses the federal government's Networking the Nation initiative, but this will need to be greatly expanded.
Priority must be given to:
widening the universal service obligations of telecommunication carriers to include provision of untimed local calls and high quality online services to all consumers at reasonable cost
provision of mobile phone services throughout Australia
avoiding adverse impacts on regional communities due to the changeover to digital TV and mobile phone networks
extension of SBS and JJJ services to all areas
skills development linked to infrastructure improvements
Local government calls upon the federal government to meet its telecommunications community service obligations which include:
considering the impacts of the Telecommunications (low-impact facilities) Determination in 1997 on local communities
extending SBS transmission services to communities of any size in regional and remote areas
ensuring that small communities are not charged inflated rates for the use of national Transmission Network sites
instructing Telstra to offer local fees for internet connections in all of rural and regional Australia
ensuring mobile phone coverage in all rural areas of Australia
ensuring the equitable distribution of remaining or additional Networking the Nation funding
Local government is committed to work with other spheres of government and the community to reduce unemployment. This can only be achieved by supporting the growth of both traditional and new and emerging industries, as well as introducing appropriate labour market programs which lead to lasting jobs, and enhance the 'job readiness' of all unemployed Australians.
Local government recognises the importance of a skilled, imaginative and flexible workforce. Local government will cooperate with regional industries, communities and other spheres of government to ensure the appropriate delivery of education, training and skills development to meet industry needs in both traditional industries and new and emerging industries within regions.
Expansion of the role of the federal government's Area Consultative Councils should include full recognition of and participation by local government.
Local government recognises the need to maintain its own efforts in training and aims to skill its workforce to world best practice in public administration.
To meet the skills shortages in rural and regional Australia, local government supports migration programs focussing upon both skills requirements and regional needs.
Subject to appropriate administrative arrangements and funding, local government supports the expansion of the federal government's national employment programs.
Local government recognises the important role of small business in the local, regional and national economy, and its potential to generate investment and create local employment. To this end, local government will seek productive relationships with business leaders to foster sustainable business development in regions.
Local government calls on the federal government to retain the Diesel Fuel Rebate Scheme. It supports the view of the mining sector, which suggests that any changes to the scheme aimed at increasing revenue should focus on higher taxation on profits, as distinct from increasing the cost of production - which serves as a disincentive to regional development, industry expansion/diversification and employment opportunities.
Local government also calls upon the Commonwealth government to undertake full cost benefit analysis, including assessment of the economic and social impacts on regions, of proposals for removal or reduction of external protection measures.
Local government is committed to vigorously pursuing all Federal Political Parties and independents to give their genuine and meaningful bi-partisan support to real regional development through out Australia and to reinstate all government services providing agencies at efficient level of service.
Local government calls upon the Commonwealth and state governments to work with ALGA to:
support an alliance of regional Australian local governments
establish a National Regional Development Agreement
introduce regional policies to encourage domestic and globally competitive industries
Local government is committed to regional co-operation amongst councils as a basis for effective regional development.
Leadership has been displayed by local government through the establishment of Voluntary Regional Organisations of Councils and other co-operative arrangements to discharge its roles in advocacy, economic development, strategic planning and co-ordination, and resource sharing. Approximately 50% of councils throughout Australia participate in a VROC.
VROCs provide a vehicle for local government to:
form effective linkages with other spheres of government and regional stakeholders on issues which extend across council boundaries
progress microeconomic reform
enhance planning and development to facilitate regional development
facilitate technology transfer between councils and develop benchmarks to assist local government performance in the delivery of government services
pursue specific joint initiatives and projects
deliver Commonwealth and state government programs in regional Australia
Topical information that was previously provided by the RegionLink online network is now provided by ALGA's website and the State and Territory Association Technology Information Sharing (STATIS) as a platform for timely communication, information sharing and exchange of best practice amongst VROCs, councils and related organisations.
Local government seeks ongoing federal government financial support for its regional cooperation efforts.
Local government will continue to support and promote policies aimed at safeguarding the continued viability and opportunities for development of Australia's rural regions and communities.
Rural communities are facing an extremely difficult period of structural adjustment and social change. Governments must cooperate to sustain communities, provide an adequate range of services comparable to those available in larger centres, and maintain social cohesion. Further, that the federal government and private sector recognise and fund Community Service Obligations (CSO) to ensure the provision of affordable and equitable services to all Australians with particular emphasis on the provision of power (electricity), access to air transport and telecommunications. Detailed assessments must be made of the community impacts of rationalisation and withdrawal of services, including the effects of National Competition Policy.
Strengthened policies and programs are needed to address the major issues facing rural Australia including:
farm viability and rural adjustment
economic and population decline in some regions, accompanied by increasing poverty and social isolation
natural resource and environmental management
community relations
sustainability of cultural identity
development of value-added industries and export markets
regional tourism
resource development
Governments must commit to expanded programs for rural development which focus on:
supporting emerging and alternative industries to diversify the economic base, particularly through value-added production and export development
provision of enhanced education, training and skills development
availability of adequate housing
an increased effort to promote the implementation of sound land management
maximum use of existing infrastructure, skills and raw materials
maintenance and improvement of essential community services and facilities
improving transport and communication systems and minimising costs to users
control of noxious weeds and feral animals
establishment of diverse employment bases for single-industry dependent communities
Relevant Commonwealth, state and territory taxes and charges should be reduced to offset excessive cost imposts on rural communities. In particular, local government seeks the development of a more equitable retail fuel pricing structure.
Urgent action is required to improve the provision of health services in rural and remote areas. The federal government should initiate a comprehensive review of rural health needs, including the impact of recent policy changes. It should also undertake further investigation of all possible measures to increase the number of medial practitioners, such as recruitment of overseas doctors, allocation of Medicare provider numbers, student bonds, financial incentives etc. Every effort should be made to overcome constitutional or other impediments to such measures. Funding for bush hospitals and nursing homes must be maintained.
Withdrawal of banking services from all communities is a major economic and social problem which requires concerted government action. Local government and community organisations should be assisted to provide alternative services if banks are unwilling to cooperate and other commercial providers do not come forward.
Local government demands that the Commonwealth, state and territory governments reinstate drought as an eligible category in natural disaster relief legislation as a matter of urgency.
Local government also calls on the Commonwealth, state and territory governments to ensure that funds available for drought and disaster relief flow to people and businesses in need without delay.
The Commonwealth government must recognise severe drought as a natural element of the Australian environment and should plan accordingly. Farmers must be able to accumulate reserves to meet drought-related costs, and such reserves should not be taxed.
Federal natural disaster relief funding should take into account damage to essential public assets which are beyond the capacity of local government.
Local government calls on the federal government not to fully activate the 1998 NDRA Determination on mitigation requirements until:
agreement is reached between all three spheres of government as to what is an acceptable level of disaster mitigation
funds are provided to not only support the development of risk assessments and disaster mitigation plans at the local level but also the implementation of key capital works to put into effect the mitigation plans
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