Advocacy

The submission explains that the relocation of government administration bodies to regional areas over time can provide substantial cost savings for government and improve labour force participation and unemployment in regional centres.

It also highlighted the importance for the Committee of Inquiry to appreciate the transformation taking place in the Illawarra as it transitions from a predominately manufacturing economy to a diverse economy built on knowledge services, advanced manufacturing, trade and logistics and an increasing defence sector capability. Education and health remain significant sectors for employment growth.

The decentralisation of federal or state government administration to the Illawarra region should be considered as it would provide a win-win to the Illawarra's transformed economy as well as providing cost-effective solutions to government.

The response to the Australian Infrastructure Audit Report identifies some key infrastructure issues facing the Illawarra within the broader Australian context.

Identifying and responding to the needs of regional communities is a priority of the Regional Development Australia (RDA) network. RDA Illawarra and the Illawarra Business Chamber collaborated closely on a number of regionally important economic development issues.

The submission highlights some of the unique infrastructure challenges of the Illawarra region and linkages with broader regional, metropolitan and national infrastructure issues to try to ensure that consideration is given, through the development of the Plan, as to how best address these issues, not only for the Illawarra, but other regions at large.

RDA Illawarra, Illawarra Business Chamber and Wollongong City Council collaborated on the regional response to the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee inquiry. The response identifies a range of key issues facing Wollongong as the regional capital and key economic centre for the broader Illawarra region.

The submission also aims to highlight some of the opportunities that the Senate inquiry provides to facilitate the development of a consistent definition around ‘regional capitals/centres’.