Framework for Cooperation on Regional Development
COMMONWEALTH, STATE AND TERRITORY REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT MINISTERS AND THE AUSTRALIAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION
Preamble
Regional development is a priority across all three spheres of government. Community expectations of governments in this regard are high.
Regional development is about regional communities improving their economic, social, cultural and environmental wellbeing by fully developing the potential of the region and its people. Key elements underlying successful regional development include cooperation between all spheres of government in building community capacity to adjust to change, growing and attracting businesses, diversifying regional economies, fostering innovation and working cooperatively on public and private sector infrastructure development and regional investment.
While regional communities need and should take responsibility for their own future, government support critically underpins the development process. The support required from the three spheres of government has several important dimensions:
- Vision - a shared vision to strengthen the perspective of regional Australia in government decision making, including bottom up regional thinking as an integral part of government policy development processes, and to create a sense of community ownership in the future of the region;
- Commitment - a long-term commitment that provides regional communities with the certainty they require to develop and implement strategic development plans, working in partnership with industry and government; and
- Policy and Programmes - while regional development policy must support and be consistent with national and State/Territory economic, social and environmental objectives, targeted regional initiatives can improve economic performance, address industry restructuring pressures and provide equitable access to services.
This Framework for Cooperation sets out the roles of each sphere of government in regional development and the principles governments will adopt to achieve sustainable economic, social and environmental outcomes for regional Australians.
Respective roles of Australian governments in regional development
The Federal Governments approach to regional development is to work in partnership with regional communities to foster the development of self-reliant regions. Its role is to support community plans and aspirations and develop a climate of opportunity by reducing impediments to growth, building skills and infrastructure, and delivering targeted, well-coordinated programmes and services. The Federal Government also has an important role in working with regional communities to adjust to economic, social, technological and government-induced change, and to meet the challenges of sustaining productive natural resources and the environment. It aims to do this by working with all governments and the private sector.
State and Territory governments have significant responsibilities for regional development within their jurisdictions. Each government has a range of policies, programmes and services that aim to enhance economic performance, business development, and community development and capacity building, foster innovation and skills development, and improve access to services and the environmental quality of regions. There are significant differences in approach to the issues and in the delivery of programmes and services, reflecting the wide variety of circumstances facing regional communities and the comparative and competitive advantages experienced in different regions of Australia.
Local government participation is vital to the success of regional development initiatives, and local councils, individually or in groups, including regional organisations of councils, have long been at the forefront of such activity. They have allocated large amounts of time, energy and resources to promoting development in their areas and have forged valuable partnerships with other spheres of government, business and community groups. Local government participates actively in intergovernmental approaches to economic, community and environmental development and will continue to foster progress through a range of local and regional activities.
Local government supports the use of multilateral agreements between governments and agencies to improve service planning, funding and delivery, and to prevent the multiplicity of single purpose administrative structures being established for specific functions and programmes.
Recognising the diverse needs of different regions, governments have become aware of the need for greater flexibility and more effective use of limited resources in addressing regional issues. This Framework for Cooperation engages all spheres of government in adapting and developing policies and programmes that maximise the potential of Australias regions.
Principles
Australian Federal, State, Territory and Local governments are committed to working together in a spirit of partnership to deliver government policies, programmes and services tailored to the needs of regional communities. Regional communities include the people, families, businesses, local industries, non-government organisations, educational institutions, and economic and social networks that make up regional Australia. In view of the strategic importance of regional Australia and the structural economic and social differences between regions and major metropolitan areas, governments recognise and accept that this is a long-term commitment and will work to address the objective through the principles set out below:
- Governments will seek to minimise duplication and overlap. The three spheres of government agree to clarify roles where there is confusion and duplication, and to work together in areas where there will be significant benefit to regional development.
- Governments will encourage communities to set their own priorities. Government policies and programmes will foster community empowerment and mobilise community resources to enable regions to better develop their capacity to determine their own future. Leadership and skills development are especially important in addressing systemic improvements in the capacity of communities to lead their own development.
- Governments will cooperate with each other. Governments will share best practice and develop innovative, flexible and cooperative arrangements to meet the circumstances and needs of different regions better. This includes improving access to, streamlining, and enhancing government business and social services, including program delivery. Examples of such arrangements include joint funding, co-location, agency agreements and bilateral agreements, and collaborative research.
- Governments will cooperate with the private sector. Governments and regional communities will work closely with business, whether internal or external to a region, to facilitate an environment conducive to private sector investment.
- Governments will seek to use existing structures. Government policies, programmes and services developed in partnership with regional communities will seek to identify and build on existing structures and networks within regions.
- Governments will seek to build on the competitive and comparative advantage of regions. Governments and regional communities will work closely together so that government assistance is effectively channelled to further develop sustainable regional competitive and comparative advantage.
- Governments will consult with each other, wherever possible, where new programmes and services are being developed. Governments will establish consultative mechanisms to ensure effective and practical implementation of new programmes and services.
- Governments will maximise their contribution by finding new ways to leverage existing resources to achieve better outcomes.