The Good Oil by Rod Brown*
Bogong is the byline of a regular columnist in our monthly Cockatoo newsletter. He is a successful lobbyist and his latest tidings are very relevant to local Councils looking to run agendas with the Australian Government. Herewith an extract.
‘The decision making process – whether it be on policy or programs or projects – involves a long iteration between the Minister, his office and his Department. In the lobbying game, you have served your client well if you have established a level playing field for them, or have promoted their arguments or profile to a point where they are seen and respected. After that it’s up to the merits of the case.
If your organisation has an issue to push in Federal Government here are some ground rules.
- Work it through a Ministerial office and Departmental offices before pushing upwards.
- Have a solution as well as a problem.
- Do research that can be respected.
- Stay on the job – the process can be lengthy to the point of exhausting.
- Work out who your allies are and use them wisely.
- Never leave a meeting without handing over a piece of paper summarising your issues – and stay in touch with whoever is handling that issue.
- And if that is too much to manage, hire a professional but shop around before you do it.’ Bogong is a regular contributor to The Cockatoo. Let me know it you would like a complimentary copy.
Worried about regional jobs and growth?
In case you missed it, the Government has announced that it will release an Industry Statement early next year, to set the policy directions over the next 20 to 30 years. The statement refers to Australia entering an era of true globalisation…business without borders…and the need for industry sectors to become regular contributors to global supply chains. Councils in manufacturing regions must read the issues paper at www.industry.gov.au Business roundtables are being held, and your submission goes to industrystatement@industry.gov.au
PM drops big hints on water
In a major policy speech on 17 July, Prime Minister Howard outlined his vision for solving Australia’s water crisis. He dropped two big hints. He said a sense of urgency must be maintained in this field. “There is still too little truly innovative thinking about Australia’s large scale water challenges.”
Significantly, he added that “compared with desalination, water recycling and capturing stormwater have much more to recommend them as strategies for solving Australia’s urban water challenges”.
My strong advice for Councils applying for water grants is to be innovative – and do not expect the Feds to fund routine water infrastructure.
The importance of nerds
There is a lot written these days about the ‘creative class’ – the thesis that as wealth derives increasingly from ideas, cities will prosper only if they attract those who have them. An interesting take on this was recently provided at a US conference by Dr Paul Graham, a successful entrepreneur and self confessed nerd. His thesis is that cities and towns become startup hubs only if they have both rich people and nerds. It got me thinking about why so few startups happen in Canberra – not enough nerds or rich people!
Dr Graham says nerds like being around other nerds. Smart people go where other smart people are. He adds that in the USA, there are no technology hubs without first rate universities, or at least first rate computer science departments. The university has to be good enough to act as a magnet, drawing in the best people. However, he says the university is just the seed. It has to be planted in the right soil, or it won’t germinate.
I’d reckon a good example in Australia is Monash University. Built on well manured paddocks in the 1960s, it has germinated a significant cluster of technology companies and infrastructure. There is the brand new synchrotron, Telstra Research Laboratories (photonics), scientific instrument makers (Varian, Vision Systems), pharmaceutical companies, the Biotechnology Centre of Excellence and the Monash Medical Research Precinct.
But Melbourne University has arguably more nerds nearby because, consistent with Graham’s thesis, they like well preserved old neighbourhoods with locally owned shops, used bookshops, and restaurants with personality. And not far away are the Parkville, Alfred and Austin medical research precincts.
We should take note of Adelaide too. It has both a strong university and research culture, especially in the sciences. The defence work won by South Australia should also help, and the residential development within the CBD’s perfect ‘square mile grid’ is beginning to attract nerds and rich people.
Universities in regions
If you are interested in nerds and universities, you might check out a report ‘Understanding the regional contribution of higher education institutions – a literature review’ – authors Peter Arbo (University of Tromsø) and Paul Benneworth (CURDS, UK). It was commissioned by the OECD Institutional Management in Higher Education Program.
Why high tech multinationals locate where they do?
We have unearthed some very good analysis, ‘The Internationalisation of Corporate R&D – Leveraging the changing geography of R&D’. It is from the Swedish Institute for Growth Policy Studies. It canvasses the driving forces of R&D and why multinationals are distributing their innovative activities and creating global R&D networks. You should find it on the web – or email us for more details.
* Rod Brown’s Canberra based consultancy group, Australian Project Developments Pty Ltd, specialises in industry/regional development and government liaison. For further information telephone (02) 6231 7261 or email apd@orac.net.au
