Regional Businesses Have Their Say

The independent panel of experts established by the Federal Government to undertake an analysis of regional business met today to discuss key issues affecting business development and growth in regional Australia.

The Regional Business Development Analysis Panel was established as a key component of the Government's Stronger Regions: A Stronger Australia statement, launched last year by Minister for Transport and Regional Services, John Anderson.

Dr John Keniry, Chair of the Panel, stated that feedback from regional business, industry groups, investment providers, government bodies and community groups will play an important role in the Panel's development of a regional business Action Plan, due to be provided to the Federal Government in April 2003.

"The Panel is committed to gaining comment from local business people and other interested parties about the current issues affecting business development and growth in regional Australia, in order to feed it into an Action Plan," Dr Keniry said.

"The Panel has already visited nearly 20 regional centres in New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory to speak face to face with interested groups. We have also received more than 150 written submissions.

"The main issues coming through to date are around infrastructure and planning; government regulation and lack of cooperation between different levels of government; and the image of regional Australia with its attendant problem of attracting and retaining young adults," he said.

Over the next six weeks, the Panel will visit up to 30 more regional centres in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania.

ITINERARY FOR UPCOMING RBDA PANEL VISITS