Queensland councils are lining up to take advantage of a new federal parliamentary inquiry into regional development and decentralisation.
The Select House of Representatives Committee recently released an issues paper canvassing key themes of the inquiry including best practice approaches to regional development, decentralisation of Commonwealth agencies, and corporate decentralisation.
Townsville City Council, Central Highlands Regional Council and the Central Highlands Development Corporation have already lodged submissions to the Committee outlining their advantages as potential new centres for federal agencies and staff.
All cited the job and regional economic impacts of having a more decentralised approach to locating Australian Public Service offices.
Townsville City Council said such a move would be valuable in ensuring insightful and relevant policy development.
“Locating greater Federal functions in regional centres would inform decision-making by strengthening awareness of unique local conditions and circumstances,’’ its submission said.
“As well as relocating agencies and staff, it is also recommended that the Federal Government adopt regionally-centred employment programs to facilitate decentralisation.”
“These could include incentivising voluntary relocation to regional capitals by offering faster career progression and more executive functions in regional areas. In addition, graduate programs could be established and prioritised in regionally located Departments for intakes from both regional and non-regional areas.”