A House of Representatives committee examining regional development has recommended all new federal government agencies be established outside capital cities.
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The committee in its final report of regional development and decentralisation of Commonwealth entities found every government agency should consider relocation but always set up new government units, merged organisations, or properties when leases break in regional areas.
“It is the committee’s view that decentralisation – corporate and Commonwealth – must be part of a broader regional development strategy,” the report said.
“The committee found that decentralisation of public and private entities has many advantages, including alleviating congestion and pressure on capital cities.”
It has also recommended the federal government extends its City Deals program to provide regional areas with development opportunities.
Launceston is a recipient of a City Deal which largely will transform the University of Tasmania campus at Inveresk with a mind to reinvigorate the city centre.
The project will be evaluated against social and economic criteria five years after completion.
The report acknowledged that almost nine million people live in regional Australia and make up one-third of the nation’s workforce.
It recommended the government strengthen the role of the Regional Development Australia bodies across the country and have the organisation used as a vehicle to provide greater advice on government direction.
RDA state chief executive Craig Perkins said the organisation was well-placed to co-ordinate activity with like-minded groups in a region and provide government with a prospectus of core assets and advantages or a particular region.
On decentralisation of the private and public sector, Mr Perkins said forceably moving a department from one location to another was a challenge and posed a risk of losing good staff.
He said establishment of new units in regional areas helped to manage that.
But Mr Perkins said this needed to be supported by quality services to reach a desired level of liveability as a region’s population expanded.
Pointing to the Northern Tasmania university transformation project, he said industry engagement was critical to realise optimum social and economic benefits.
