An independent report Regional Business A Plan for Action on the growth of regional business has just been released by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport and Regional Services, John Anderson.
An independent Panel of regional business experts was appointed to develop options for achieving growth for regional business. It was chaired by Dr John Keniry of Ridley Corporation.
The Panel cast a wide net in developing its Action Plan, undertaking extensive research, conducting consultations with over 1,000 people in 50 regional locations and considering almost 200 submissions. The recommended actions provided to Government include issues of access to finance, infrastructure, skilled employees, and better regional planning between business and all levels of government.
The Deputy Prime Minister said that the Government is now examining the Action Plan, giving careful consideration to whether its recommendations are consistent with broad Government policy and compatible with the various programmes already provided by the Government to regional Australia.
The report is available from the Regional Business Development Analysis website at www.rbda.gov.au