Sustainable Economic Growth for Regional Australia

The Meeting Post

Edition 3 – May 2009

Welcome to The Meeting Post

Thank you for your positive feedback on our inaugural edition of The Meeting Post and welcome to the third edition.

This edition includes feature articles on a stimulus to tourism in regional Australia as well as Growing the Green Collar Economy.

SEGRA Australia's premier national conference on regional issues is now only 24 weeks away. With a line up of outstanding national and international keynote speakers and case studies from practitioners across Australia it is a vital conference on the annual calendar for networking and information sharing amongst those with a commitment to regional Australia. Register now or visit the website at www.segra.com.au/segra to read more about speakers and programs. Hosted by City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder.

The Meeting Post is an electronic newsletter for stakeholders with an interest in developing and implementing strategies for regional Australia. It is intended to enhance the opportunities for networking and information sharing amongst regional economic development practitioners, industry, and government and research partners within the regional economic development policy community. The Meeting Post aims to be a clearing house for new research and reports. If you would like your publication publicised through The Meeting Post or have a successful project to share please contact us on 07 3210 0021.

Editorial

The devastating fires in Victoria have deeply impacted across Australia. Likewise the floods in other parts of Australia have served to remind us of our vulnerability to nature, no more so than in regional Australia.Our thoughts are with those who have suffered so terribly as a consequence. Combined with the uncertainty associated downturn in the economy it would be easy to feel overwhelmed, however there is also much opportunity for regional Australia to seize the agenda.

New opportunities will open up as a result of emerging green technology, Indigenous economic development, new approaches to clean energy infrastructure, public private cooperation on food and water security and food value changes and identification of potential new markets to name a few.

Importantly we need to identify, encourage and mentor the next wave of visionaries and entrepreneurs to ensure regional Australia is at the forefront of these opportunities.  Last edition we featured an article on youth engagement in regional WA.  If your region has taken steps to connect with the young leaders in your community to cultivate business acumen please let us know.

Please enjoy this latest edition of The Meeting Post. If you have a successful project to share, a professional perspective or new idea, or would like information about your publication disseminated through The Meeting Post please contact us on 07 3210 0021.

The Green Revolution

Green collar workforce key to triple bottom line

What will Australia’s workforce look like in a low-carbon future? Modelling by CSIRO is revealing how policy choices will shape our economy, workforce and environment over the next 50 years.

Human resources are central to achieving sustainability and human capital is the most valuable component of economic wealth, accounting for more than 75 per cent of the total asset base of high-income nations.

The recent CSIRO report, Growing the Green Collar Economy, commissioned by the Dusseldorp Skills Forum, showed that transitioning to a low-carbon economy will require not only emissions-mitigation and adaptation strategies by business and the community, but a ‘green skills’ revolution in the Australian workforce.

According to CSIRO’s Dr Heinz Schandl, the research concluded that making deep cuts in Australia’s greenhouse emissions would have little impact on national employment.

Economic modelling used in the research indicated strong employment growth for Australia over coming decades. Under low-carbon scenarios, while economic growth and employment continued at rates approximating those of the ‘business as usual’ approach to greenhouse emissions, key environmental pressures were reduced.

‘This means that we can decouple economic growth from environmental impact if we put the right policies in place,’ said Dr Schandl.

‘Achieving the transition to a low-carbon economy will require a massive mobilisation of skills and training for our green collar workers, those who work in key sectors influencing our environmental footprint.

‘This will involve concerted action by government, businesses, labour, and educational and training institutions to develop and implement new approaches to green education, training and jobs.

‘There is a triple dividend of greater wellbeing, cost-saving and reduced environmental impact to be earned if Australia takes measures to support the skills revolution required for a low-carbon, environmentally sustainable society.’

Growing the Green Collar Economy projected an increase of 2.5–3.3 million jobs over the next two decades if Australia adopts a ‘sustainable future’ policy framework, characterised by its population’s improved quality of life and shrinking environmental footprint. 

Employment in sectors with high potential environmental impacts – energy, construction and housing, transport and mobility, crop and livestock production, and nutrition – stand to grow strongly, with projected increases of more than 10 per cent over ten years. The projections are for 230 000–340 000 additional jobs in the transport, construction, agriculture, manufacturing and mining sectors, with employment in construction and transport sectors expected to grow much faster than the national average.

‘Supporting a low-carbon transition will require a fundamental change in the organisation, design and actual activities in these sectors,’ said Dr Schandl. ‘It depends upon the right incentives being put in place as well as on the human and leadership capacity to head toward sustainability.’

The CSIRO modelling used two different national models: CSIRO’s Australian Stocks and Flows Framework (ASFF), which takes a ‘physical economy’ approach, and an alternative ‘monetary economy’ model.

Physical models takes into account the impact of policies on the availability of natural resources like water, fossil fuels, forests and biodiversity to meet future demands for food, housing and other ‘physical’ inputs in economic activity. The ASFF uses an integrated database of the physical economy in Australia from 1941 to 2001 and can be used to explore long-term (50–100 years) issues.

The policy strategies explored in Growing the Green Collar Economy were based on reducing material and energy flows in material-intensive and emission-intensive sectors such as energy, construction, housing, transport and mobility, food production and nutrition, and exports.

The changes included shifting from coal-powered electricity to gas and renewables over the period to 2050; shifting to more efficient transport options; reducing extraction and export of minerals and energy commodities from 2030; increasing energy efficiency of buildings; and changing eating habits toward healthy, fresh food, increasing fruit, vegetables and cereal consumption and reducing meat consumption.

The modelling assessed the impacts of policy strategies on the economy’s physical stocks – for example, buildings, vehicles and people ­– and physical flows such as employment, materials, energy and carbon emissions. This will enable Australia’s decision-makers to ‘test the implications of different policy decisions as we head toward a stronger economy, higher living standards and a healthier environment’, concluded Dr Schandl. 

Download the report here

Contact: Dr Heinz Schandl

Professional Perspectives

A stimulus to tourism in regional Australia?
Bruce Leaver

Many would remember the Paul Hogan ‘Shrimp on the Barbie’ tourism campaign and more recently the ‘Where the bloody hell are you’ campaign selling Australia to the world.

Tourism earns more than coal and the combined earnings of beef, aluminium and natural gas.  Over 460,000 people are employed in tourism (9.6% of jobs).  The industry is critical to the economy in many regional and remote areas.

The Country Brand Index, for the third time, has put Australian brand recognition on top, ahead of the US, UK in third, France and Italy, fourth and fifth. New Zealand was eighth.  The problem is that this level of recognition is not translated into visits.  We are a dream destination.  People dream of coming here.

Despite the importance of tourism there has never been a national strategic approach to identifying our outstanding attractions beyond the well worn favourites ‘Reef, Rock and Opera House’. 68% of international visitors come to experience nature yet there is no strategy to identify, present or market our iconic natural attractions.

The National Landscapes program is a Tourism Australia-Parks Australia partnership identifying the top 15 superlative natural experiences for international marketing. Each National Landscape will be world class. It will have its own distinctive brand exemplifying its uniqueness. That will form the basis for sensitive master planning, sustainable facilities and services and marketing. It will target a type of international visitor with a soft environmental footprint.

Landscapes are identified by a Committee which includes the Australian Tourism Export Council, Ecotourism Australia, the World Commission on Protected Areas, Indigenous Tourism Australia and the Tourism and Transport Forum.

The Committee has identified 26 candidate areas. The first 8 were announced at the Australian Tourism Exchange in Perth by the Chairman of Tourism Australia Rick Allert. These were the Red Centre, Kakadu region, Flinders Ranges, Great Ocean Road, Greater Blue Mountains, the Australian Alps, Australia’s Coastal Wilderness (SE Aust) and the Green Cauldron (Tweed Border Ranges). These are already being marketed to the world on Australia.com.

The Committee only assesses candidates where there is regional drive and interest. Most candidacies are driven by an enthusiastic coalition representing local government, national parks, regional tourism and tourism operators, in some cases straddling state borders.

Bruce Leaver
Parks Australia
Co-convenor National Landscapes Reference Committee

Image courtesy of http://photos.travellerspoint.com

 

What Happened Next?

At every SEGRA conference, organisations present success stories from their region. This section reports on actions and outcomes since the conference.

Economic Impacts of Victoria's Regional Infrastructure Development Fund

When the Brack’s Labor Government came into office in 1999, one of its first priorities was to establish the Regional Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF).

The RIDF was the first dedicated fund for regional infrastructure in Australia and has been instrumental in facilitating the structural transformation of provincial Victoria for nearly a decade.

Regional Development Victoria commissioned this independent review of the RIDF by PricewaterhouseCoopers, tasking them to evaluate the economic benefits the fund has delivered to provincial Victoria through the funding of high quality infrastructure projects across a wide range of industry sectors.

The report found that: 

For a copy of the full report, please click here

United Murraylands has a full plate

It took three attempts to secure funding over three years, but the Murraylands Regional Development Board is finally enjoying the results of the Regional Investment Opportunities (RIO) project which wrapped up in July last year. 

The project gave the community the opportunity to have a say about the sort of developments that were being courted for the region.

It has been an invaluable exercise, according to Brenton Lewis, Chief Executive Officer of Murraylands Regional Development Board, despite not leading to any earth-shattering revelations.

“It has given us a feeling of being one of completeness. Being driven by the board was working well, but I questioned whether it was as healthy as getting the region to tell us what they wanted…I feel more comfortable as CEO having been through this process,” said Mr Lewis.

Under the RIO project, the five councils analysed the assets and challenges within their boundaries with water and climate change easily identifiable as the major issues, against a backdrop of a 20 per cent decline in horticulture and a massive contraction in the dairy industry.

Mr Lewis reported tourism was the ‘no-brainer’ with all five councils identifying this as a key opportunity for the region.

“Going through the process validated what had happened in the past, but it has re-enforced our decision making and it has improved the relationship with local government,” said Mr Lewis.

Part of the RIO funding was used to train local government staff on the importance of regional investment, highlighting how opportunities can be squandered. Training was given to a range of employees, from front counter customer service officers through to senior planners.

“It has given the community a very clear, distinct vision of where the Murraylands wants to go,” says Mr Lewis.

Brenton Lewis

Four economic outlook reports were publicly presented during the RIO process, each giving substantial economic analysis of three or four potential investment categories. Over 1000 attendees heard the forecasts with varying scenarios explaining the potential the region had to offer. 

Engaging the public bolstered the region’s image as a dynamic and attractive location for development, and combined with the more co-operative team spirit between the agencies involved, the number of enquiries is on the rise.

This clear sense of ownership across the region has inspired the neighbouring region of Riverland and Murraylands is now sharing the knowledge gained going through the RIO process with Riverland. 

The only downside to the closure of the project is the loss of funding for a full-time project officer, with Murraylands staff having to absorb the additional workload created by the increased number of enquiries.

“We’ll dine on the carcass (of RIO) for the next two to three years, and come 2011/2012 we’ll look to re-invigorate and go to the next dimension,” said Mr Lewis.

More information about Murraylands is available at www.murraylands.org.au

Publications

Air transport services in regional Australia: trends and access
Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics

In recent years, there has been much debate over the adequacy of scheduled air services to and from regional communities. Policymakers at different levels of government have faced issues regarding the viability, sustainability and accessibility of air services in some parts of regional Australia.

BITRE considers that an evidence based approach to understanding the temporal profile of the regional aviation industry may play a useful role in informing both policy development and the industry itself.

By amalgamating and optimising existing information, regional aviation data were collated for the first time into comprehensive time series statistics using a geographical approach.

The report used the constructed database to showcase analyses on several aspects of the regional aviation industry over time. It provides comprehensive data analyses of regional aviation trends, geospatial analyses on the accessibility of regional air services, projections of future regional aviation trends, and explorations of possible associations between key socio-demographic factors and the level of access to air services in regional communities.

Through the development of a consistent historical database for regional aviation, this study establishes a platform for more future research in regional aviation. The database offers flexibility to conduct various cross sectional or time series analyses; potentially in conjunction with other data sources.

This project was undertaken by Poh Ping Lim under the supervision of Dr David Gargett and Phil Potterton. The assistance and input offered by Gary Dolman, Jonathan Firth, David Mitchell, Dr William Lu, Dr Afzal Hossain and Quentin Reynolds in reviewing the final draft are greatly appreciated. Acknowledgement also goes to Scott Stone for his contribution during the early stages of the project and Rob Stewart for his involvement in the final stages of the project.

The full report can be found at http://www.bitre.gov.au/

Phil Potterton
Executive Director
Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics
April 2008

Closing the gap on Indigenous disadvantage: the challenge for Australia
The Hon Kevin Rudd MP

In 2008 the Australian Parliament and the Australian nation came together for an historic moment in our nation’s history, when we formally apologised to the Stolen Generations – those Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were forcibly removed from their families and their communities through the actions of past governments.

We said sorry for the laws and policies of successive parliaments and governments that inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on our fellow Australians, in particular the Stolen Generations – those who suffered the hurt, the humiliation, the cruelty and the sheer brutality of being taken away, often forever, from their mothers and their fathers, their families and their people.

The Apology was about acknowledging a dark chapter in our nation’s history. It was also about recognising past wrongdoings and in a modest way righting the wrongs of the past. The Apology is only the first step.

If we are to move forward together as a nation, and build a stronger and fairer Australia in the twenty-first century, we must address the appalling gap between the life opportunities enjoyed by Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

Throughout the history of European settlement, a baby born to an Indigenous family in Australia has had far more limited opportunities than a baby born to a non-Indigenous family. The Australian Government is resolutely determined to change this reality.

Closing the Gap is fundamentally important to building a fairer Australia. In the later decades of the twentieth century, our nation implemented the important legal reforms that recognised the equality of Indigenous Australians before the law. While legal rights are essential for overcoming entrenched disadvantage, rights alone cannot close the gap. They only establish a foundation for making progress.

The challenge we now confront is to work together to close the gap in real life outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. This is the objective to which the Australian Government is committed, but cannot achieve on its own. As a nation, we must come together around this vision and take substantive action – Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, Commonwealth, state and territory governments, business and the wider community.

The Australian Government is committed to this national effort in cooperation with other governments. In 2008, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed to six ambitious targets relating to Indigenous life expectancy, health, education and employment.

The Hon Kevin Rudd
Prime Minister of Australia

For a copy of the full report please click here

Country Matters - Social Atlas of Rural and Regional Australia
Bureau of Rural Sciences

Country Matters – Social Atlas of Rural and Regional Australia is a publication that is released every five years by the staff at the Bureau of Rural Sciences (BRS), in the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF).

It focuses on people, communities and industries in rural and regional Australia and will be a key information source to develop policy and programs for rural people and industries.

BRS has updated the Atlas with key information on Australians who live outside capital cities from the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Population Census. It includes maps, graphs and analytical commentary and makes comparison with 2006, 2001 and 1996 data to illustrate social and economic trends.

The Atlas describes the unique characteristics of people, industries and communities in rural and regional Australia through the illustration of key demographic and socio-economic characteristics in relation to:

The Atlas continues to support policy makers, industry and rural communities in understanding the social and demographic landscape and trends in rural and regional Australia.

For a copy of the full report please click here

 

Northern Australia Taskforce delivers midterm Report
The Hon Gary Gray AO MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development and Northern Australia

The Northern Australia Land and Water Taskforce has presented its Midterm Report to the Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development and Northern Australia, Gary Gray. Mr Gray said the Taskforce had begun to explore and understand the opportunities for new sustainable economic development across northern Australia.

"It will have a particular emphasis on developing available water resources, acknowledging the importance of protecting the unique quality of life and world class environmental assets in northern Australia," Mr Gray said. "This is crucial if the widespread problems that have arisen from land and water resource development in other regions are to be avoided."

The Midterm Report summarises results from the 2007 Taskforce inquiries, provides brief statements against the Terms of Reference and outlines the actions the Taskforce will implement during 2009.

In 2009, the Taskforce will focus on:

The Hon Gary Gray AO MP

Mr Gray said the Midterm Report was the first time a Taskforce report had been released publicly. All documents released by the former Taskforce are available on the Taskforce's website.

The Taskforce is due to deliver its final report at the end of the year. 

More information on the Taskforce, including a copy of the Midterm Report and its Terms of Reference, can be found at www.nalwt.gov.au

SEGRA Communique

SEGRA has been grappling with the rollercoaster of realities impacting regional communities since its inception twelve years ago as the premier, national event for regional development professionals.

A concise report on the array of issues debated and the key resolutions from the latest conference hosted by Albury, NSW is now available in the SEGRA 2008 communiqué.

Spanning the complex matrix of factors that impact on the prosperity of regional communities, SEGRA continues to examine such topics as infrastructure and service delivery, encouraging sustainable and economically viable industries, workforce retention and the x-factor of social amenity. It also casts an eye into the next decade to identify emerging trends, opportunities and tensions.

For the past few years climate change adaptation and mitigation has been the scene stealer, but from the 2008 conference there was a determination to ward off any cynicism and complacency. The challenge for regional development professionals is engaging communities in meaningful responses to the new climate realities.

Effective governance also rated highly for SEGRA 2008. The concept of cooperative federalism and the need for public debate about the role of regions in determining future development was keenly debated. There was a general impatience with ‘buck-passing’ between state and federal governments and the duplication of programs, legislative bases and decision making under the current constitutional framework.

Making a go of a region requires vision and a dynamic response to the realities on the ground. It requires inspiration, adapting others’ creative ideas and forging alliances. SEGRA provides the environment for the fusion of such strengths. 

The SEGRA 2008 communiqué is available here

Full conference papers are available on cd-rom please click here to order.

Conference Proceedings

Keynote speeches, papers/presentations, the post conference Communiqué, and the complete conference program are also available on CD-ROM. To obtain a copy of the disc please complete the online order on our website.

Events

SEGRA 2009: 27-29 October - Kalgoorlie-Boulder
Regional Australia: exploring new frontiers

The sudden and severe downturn in the global economy and significant uncertainty about Australia’s short term economic outlook creates real challenges for regional Australia not just to survive the crisis but to ensure that it emerges stronger and well placed for the future.  Whilst it is natural to feel grim, there is also much opportunity for regional Australia to seize the agenda in a range of new and emerging ‘frontiers’.

  1. growth in green industry;
  2. planned decentralisation particularly in regard to shifts from oil dependence;
  3. localisation of development of human resource capacities, goods and services in response to food and water security;
  4. using appropriate legislative, planning and implementation mechanisms to maximise potential for growth in the resource sector to stay in regional communities; 
  5. and planned responses to the shifts in agricultural patterns as a result of climate change.

SEGRA 2009 will be held in Kalgoorlie Boulder, 27-29 October. The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, the archetype of frontiers is Australia largest outback city. Kalgoorlie-Boulder is a dynamic regional centre with a proud history based on gold but which now enjoys a diversified economy and high quality of life with modern facilities and services. 

Call for papers is now open. If you would like to offer a paper to be delivered at SEGRA 2009 please obtain details and the appropriate submission form by visiting http://www.segra.com.au/segra

Education and Learning

Play your part in something bigger!

Music is a significant part of life, no matter where you live in the great expanse called Australia.  Musica Viva, a national organisation, is committed to taking its internationally recognised and highly regarded music programs to regional Australia.

Musica Viva’s regional touring program provides access to a large selection of highly talented professional musicians for communities throughout regional, rural and remote Australia through its CountryWide touring program.

which provides access to a large selection of highly regarded professional musicians for communities throughout regional, rural and remote Australia. 

Musica Viva also conducts:

Musica Viva In Schools
One of the largest and most extensive music education programs in the world. This multi-award winning program will, in any given year, present over 2,400 live concerts to over 400,000 school children throughout Australia, covering a range of music types from jazz and folk to world and classical. Musica Viva travels to many rural areas of Australia, and financial support to your local school can ensure we bring not only live music to your students, but professional development to your teachers so they are more confident in teaching musical elements to your children.

International Concerts
The best international and Australian musicians in classical music subscription seasons performed in major venues in all capital cities. Some of these artists are available to tour to regional Australia through our CountryWide program.

About Musica Viva
Musica Viva Australia is a not-for-profit organisation, is the world’s largest and most successful entrepreneur of fine ensemble and chamber music and educational programs, and presents in excess of 2,500 concerts every year. Founded in 1945, Musica Viva is the oldest independent professional performing arts organisation, and is designated by the Australian Government to be one of Australia’s ‘flagship’ major performing arts organizations. It has an enviable reputation for strength and stability in an industry that is renowned for its turbulence and uncertainty, and over its 63-year history, has continually entertained, educated and stimulated audiences of all ages in Australia and around the world. Musica Viva’s Artistic Director is eminent Australian composer Carl Vine, also well-known as an innovator in new technology and an articulate spokesperson on the intersection of new technology and culture.

Musica Viva is the only truly national performing arts organization with offices in every state and territory in Australia, and maintains a strong reputation for the highest standards, domestically and internationally. Musica Viva works from a strong financial base where box office income accounts for 54% of all income, while Government grants account for 27% and private donations and corporate sponsorship, accounts for 19%.

Over the years Musica Viva and it’s Musica Viva In Schools program have been the winners of numerous awards including the 2006 Classical Music Awards for Distinguished Services to Australian Music and Outstanding Contribution to Australian Music in Education, the Australia Business Arts Foundation (AbaF) Award for Outstanding Corporate Partnership of the Year, presented by the Prime Minister, and the Australian Financial Review’s National Award for Most Outstanding Corporate Arts Partnership for its Principal Partnership with Sun Microsystems. 

Contact:

Musica Viva Queensland www.musicaviva.com.au
Phone: (07) 3844 7400
Fax: (07) 3844 8788
Musica Viva Queensland Manager – for Sponsorships & Support
Musica Viva In Schools – Queensland
Country Wide

 

News

Management Solutions (Qld) - new location new services

Since 1996 Management Solutions Qld has been committed to professional development with a particular interest in the public and non government sectors.  Recently MSQ has expanded its services to include management consultancy specialising in personal coaching of middle level managers and aspiring managers in areas such as leadership, organisational and personal development and stakeholder engagement.  Areas of focus include negotiation, performance management, building high performing teams and facilitation.

Kate Charters, Director, brings over 20 years experience in the public sector at senior management levels and 10 years as a professional trainer in areas of public policy, implementation and evaluation. Kate is recognised for her capacities to think strategically; identify and develop appropriate organisational structures and relationships; and skills in managing competency development and performance reviews of staff.

Individual professional appointments are available for managers wishing to:

Management Solutions (Qld) is now centrally located on the ground floor
of the historic Mansions 40 George Street. To find out more or to obtain
a professional capacity statement contact Kate on 07 3210 0021 or visit
www.managementsolutions.net.au

Boardroom now available for bookings

The room is ideal for meetings; training sessions; interviewing; presentations; workshops, for up to twelve people. The room is fully air-conditioned and has adjoining bathroom and kitchen. The heritage listed Mansions is centrally located in the heart of the government precinct on the corner of George and Margaret Streets.

For further information please visit www.tonycharters.com or contact Annelies Hill for details on price and availability, she can be contacted on (07) 3012 9575.

Submissions Invited

 

The Meeting Post is an electronic newsletter for stakeholders with an interest in developing and implementing strategies for regional Australia. It is intended to enhance the opportunities for networking and information sharing amongst regional economic development practitioners, industry, and government and research partners within the regional economic development policy community. The Meeting Post aims to be a clearing house for new research and reports. If you would like your publication publicised through The Meeting Post or have a successful project to share please contact us on 07 3210 0021.

Image Courtesy of http://o.aolcdn.com/

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