Regional Capitals Australia (RCA) has today welcomed the Australian Government’s announcement of a Regional Australia Ministerial Taskforce to be chaired by the Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
The Prime Minister will be joined by his colleagues Minister for Regional Development, Regional Communications and Local Government, Fiona Nash as Deputy Chair, in addition to Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce, Education Minister Simon Birmingham, Health Minister Greg Hunt, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Darren Chester, Industry Minister Arthur Sinodinos, Resources and Northern Australia Minister Matt Canavan and Employment Minister Michaelia Cash.
Mayor Shane Van Styn, Chair of RCA, said the announcement of the taskforce was a clear indication the challenges – and more importantly the enormous potential that exists in regional Australia – would be examined and championed by the most Senior Government Ministers.
The taskforce was formed to oversee and develop initiatives across the each Ministers’ portfolio to:
- drive economic growth and create local jobs
- build transport and communications infrastructure
- improve access to education and healthcare services; and
- create confident and strong regions working in partnership with local communities.
“RCA is particularly interested to see, through the taskforce, how our national leaders can work with our members to grow the many economic opportunities in Australia’s regional cities,” Mayor Van Styn said.
“All cities that work are enormous economic assets and play a vital role in supporting jobs growth and strong economies; we know that for our cities to be an investment priority for business they must also be an investment priority for government,” he said.
“Our cities need to be connected with high speed broadband, telecommunications, roads, rail, ports and airports as well as liveable with regional access to tertiary education, health, sporting facilities, arts and cultural centres and active CBDs,” he said.
As large service and economic hubs, regional capital cities have a strong role in not only supporting regional city residents but also the additional four million people who live in the surrounding towns and rural areas.
Every day one-third of Australians rely on a thriving regional capital city to meet their needs.
“RCA looks forward to an opportunity to brief the taskforce on the potential of our member cities as we work in partnership to ensure Australia’s regions are clearly the liveable alternative and to give those living in regional Australia a fair go,” said Mayor Van Styn.
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RCA Media Contact
Rachael Sweeney Regional Capitals Australia Secretariat
P: 03 9666 3368
M: (04) 22067 858
E: Secretariat@regionalcapitalsaustralia.org
About Regional Capitals Australia
Regional Capitals Australia (RCA) is a national alliance of local government councils representing Australia’s regional cities. RCA’s mission is to provide a recognised platform to champion the strategic importance and sustainable development of regional capitals around the nation. To learn more about our work visit http://www.regionalcapitalsaustralia.org
Available for Interview
Mayor Shane Van Styn – Chair, Regional Capitals Australia | Mayor, City of Greater Geraldton
To arrange an interview, please contact RCA Secretariat on above contact details.