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Regional Development Australia (RDA), a new joint Commonwealth-State regional development arrangement, took a major step in NSW today with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Commonwealth and New South Wales Governments. Signing on behalf of the Commonwealth, Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development and Northern Australia, Gary Gray, said the MoU laid the foundation for the new relationship between the Australian and NSW governments. Local Government will also have a strong role in RDA. "The new Regional Development Australia committees replace the 14 NSW Area Consultative Committees (ACCs) and the State's 13 Regional Development Boards (RDBs)," Mr Gray said. "The members of these committees have been consulted, and are contributing to the implementation of the new arrangements and their help is vital to the successful transition." The NSW signatory, Minister for Regional Development, Phillip Costa, said the next step would be to fill the new RDA committees with people committed to the development of their regions and with the ability to strongly represent the grass-roots views from their regions. "The governments will soon be publicly inviting expressions of interest for RDA committee members, including chairs and deputy chairs," Mr Costa said. "Membership is being sought from a wide cross section of community members who can demonstrate a commitment to the future of their regions. Local Government will also be represented on the new committees. "Regional Development Australia committee volunteers, with local experience and a diversity of views, will be a valuable source of regional advocacy and be able to integrate the work of all levels of government to improve regional economies and amenity." Mr Costa and Mr Gray said there would be resources to get the job done - existing funding for the current boards (Commonwealth and NSW) will transfer to the new Regional Development Australia. "The Regional Development Australia committees will assist all government agencies to focus their work on the priorities identified by each community. The new RDA committees will build on the excellent work undertaken by the ACCs and RDBs," they said. "This agreement is about the three levels of government working in partnership to benefit local communities and find local solutions, while being able to concentrate the expertise of the whole of Australian governments".
Media Contacts
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Alicia Miriklis (
Mr Gray's Office ) |
0428 911 240
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Peter McCabe (
Mr Costa's Office ) |
0439 707 101
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