LITHGOW JOBS SUMMIT
GS016/2008
22 July 2008
LITHGOW JOBS SUMMIT
Lithgow Workmen's Club
Parliamentary Secretary will be met by the
Hon Bob Debus MP, Minister for Home Affairs and
Mayor Neville Castle, Lithgow City Council.
Parliamentary Secretary will be introduced by MC
Paul Anderson. Paul was General Manager of Lithgow City Council up until 20 June 2008. He is now General Manager of Eurobodalla Council.
INTRODUCTION
Thank you for the kind words Paul, and good morning ladies and gentlemen.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
The Hon Bob Debus MP, Minister for Home Affairs,
Mr Gerard Martin MP, Member for Bathurst,
Mr Ron Penny, Chair Central NSW RDA,
Mr Tom Murphy, CEO Western Research Institute
It's a pleasure to be able to join you. I'd like to thank my colleague, Bob Debus, for suggesting that I come along to today's Jobs Summit.
As a political historian, I am very aware of the historic significance of Lithgow - home of the Zig Zag railway and home to coal miner, Joseph Cook, founding member of the New South Wales Labor Party and Australia's sixth Prime Minister.
When I was National Secretary of the Labor Party I frequently visited Lithgow after meeting with the then Member for Calare David Simmons or the Member for Macquarie Maggie Deahm.
Macquarie was also of course the seat of one of Australia's great leaders Ben Chifley.
Among his achievements, Prime Minister Chifley oversaw the post War immigration program, started the Snowy Hydro development and created a social security scheme for the unemployed.
In Bob Debus, you have a local leader who is following in the footsteps of Chifley and a local member who will make a positive contribution to communities in Macquarie.
I have always thought of Lithgow as a pretty special place. You're the city that lights up Sydney, you are surrounded by World Heritage listed National Parks and you are often thought of as the birthplace of Australia's iron and steel industry.
In the days of the early settlers, the Lithgow valley was passed by in search of the Western plains.
Similarly, today many use the Great Western Highway to pass by on their way to Bathurst and beyond.
My drive up this morning after a long flight from Perth gave me plenty of time to reflect on the vast distances and long journeys we take for granted as part and parcel of doing business in Australia.
It also emphasised how important it is for us to get our national transport infrastructure right - and that includes access to and from regional centres such as Lithgow.
I will talk about it later, but getting transport corridors right allows regions to benefit from local supply chain logistics and to optimise from the synergies inherent in local supply chain logistics.
I'll talk a little more about this later, but first I'd like to congratulate Central NSW Regional Development Australia, Lithgow City Council and the Western Research Institute for their initiative in arranging this summit.
And I'd like to thank YOU for taking the time to be here today.
Your attendance shows that you care about your community, that you are prepared to stand up and be counted, and that you are genuinely interested in sustainable solutions to provide employment and keep your community and growing and vibrant.
According to a couple of American sociologists, sustainable communities are made up of people with a "can do" attitude and a visible, proactive response to change.
They say that sustainable communities also take the time to carefully research, analyse and plan their future1.
I am not a sociologist but long ago I recognised that grumpy sense of self reliance that characterises successful community leaders.
Do not be afraid to be grumpy. You must be self reliant.
I think any bunch of sociologists would have to agree that today's turnout, and the workshops that are planned for this afternoon, show that Lithgow is on the right track.
As Paul said in his introduction, I'm here today representing the Rudd Government in my capacity as Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development.
I appreciate the opportunity to be able to update you on the regional and national initiatives the Government has put in place since coming to office at the end of last year.
I hope I can give you enough information on these initiatives to help you work through the options and opportunities in this afternoon's group sessions.
But before I do that, I'd like to share a little of my background with you.
As I said earlier, I'm a Western Australian and my electorate of Brand lies just south of Perth.
I arrived in Australia in 1966 as a member of a family of £10 Poms.
I grew up in the steel city of Whyalla in South Australia - a place not too different to Lithgow.
My first job after leaving school was with BHP in the local steelworks and my last job before entering Parliament was with Woodside Energy. So, I am no stranger to the world of mining and energy.
Having also lived for a number of years in Darwin, I have a particularly affinity and interest in the development of regional Australia - and in the development of sustainable communities and regional centres such as your own.
So, to let's get down to business... today's forum is about generating strategies and sharing ideas.
Strategies that will make sure that Lithgow can attract industry and support projects which will provide training opportunities and sustainable employment - opportunities that support communities.
REGIONAL INITIATIVES
Federal Labor Governments have a strong track record in supporting regional Australia and in working with local government.
The Whitlam Government was the first to provide untied financial assistance grants to local governments, and to support the establishment of the Regional Organisation of Councils.
The Keating Government established REDOS the Howard Government translated them into the Area Consultative Committee network and the Regional Development Program.
At all times the development of a Canberra view of and capability to address regional agendas was being refined.
The Rudd Government is transitioning the existing Area Consultative Committees - such as the Central West ACC - into a new network, Regional Development Australia or RDA which will have a much broader and more strategic role than the previous network.
Naturally I would like to thank Ron Penny and to acknowledge his work with the ACC.
The new body will provide strategic input into national programs, improve the coordination of the Government's regional development initiatives and link closely to local governments and other regional organisations.
The new structure and role for RDA will come into effect from 1 January next year.
In the meantime, we are consulting with regional communities such as your own, state and local governments, regional development organisations and other stakeholders.
Consultations have been happening over the past two months and will continue over the next couple of weeks, and I hope Ron that you're having your say about how you would like the new structure to work.
Anthony Albanese and I met with the interim Board of RDA in April to discuss the network's future role including a work plan to take us up to the end of this year.
As Ron Penny knows, I have asked ACCs to conduct community consultations to provide the Government with feedback on a number of fronts including:
- reporting back by the end of August on improving the way we structure regional engagement;
- setting principals and priorities for the new Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program -- which I will talk about in a moment; and
- prioritising the sort of local community infrastructure projects that could encourage economic development in local communities.
The Interim Board of the RDA will report on the last two tasks by the end of October.
As I just mentioned, we have established a Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program - to deliver major investments in appropriate infrastructure projects including recreational and environmental initiatives.
In line with the Rudd Government's national approach to infrastructure investment, our new program will be accountable, transparent and based on community needs.
Funding will be available under the 2009-2010 Budget.
The processes to consider proposals for funding will be proper and transparent. Outcomes of today's meeting may provide valuable insight around possible eligible projects or processes for Lithgow.
I want to stress there will be no pork barrel, there will be a proper process.
As Tom Murphy pointed out in his talk, a number of skilled manufacturing jobs in recent years have been lost, however you have maintained jobs in mining and electricity generation and you are building a viable tourism sector.
I understand that proposals have also been floated around an advanced manufacturing industrial park.
Importantly, ideas such as these show initiative and a sensible approach to growing your community.
Experience shows study and examination of supply chains reveals synergistic business opportunities which can build sustainable regional economies.
AUSLINK: TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE
The drive up this morning took us around two and a half hours - I think that is pretty average for the trip.
As I said first up this morning, my travels throughout Australia have reinforced for me the tyranny of distance we face and how crucial it is that we tackle these problems.
I don't have to tell you that that The Great Western Highway is the main road link between Sydney and Lithgow and beyond to the central west.
I'm sure Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson would be impressed but in today's day and age it really isn't up to scratch.
The Rudd Government is keenly aware of the need for upgrades to improve not only commuter and tourist travel to and from Lithgow but also to provide and enhance vital freight links.
Improving domestic travel enhances the liveability of your community, while improving tourist and freight access will boost the sustainability of local industry, both existing and new.
Recognising this, we made a number of commitments including $100 million for the Penrith to Katoomba stretch - with just over $20 million allocated in the 2008-2009 Budget.
We are partnering with the New South Wales Government to widen the road from the existing two lane formation to a four lane divided highway.
We also committed $200 million for the Katoomba to Lithgow stretch including a new alignment to bypass the current steep grades and tight curves in the Mount Victoria section.
We have invested $2.4 million in the 2008-09 Budget for a feasibility study. The timelines should see feasible route options presented by mid 2009 and a preferred route agreed in the same year.
These upgrades go hand in hand with the Central West Transport Needs Study. Tenders for the study have just closed and a consultant has been selected.
Overall, $5 million has been committed for the study which will examine both road and rail transport including the option for an expressway across the Blue Mountains and/or upgrades to the Bells Line of Road .
$1 million has been allocated in the 2008-09 Budget for the first stage of the study which is due to be completed by November this year.
Lithgow has also benefited from AusLink's Strategic Regional Program which supports projects to encourage regional industry, or strengthen local social and economic opportunities.
$2.4 million has been committed towards stage three of the Wolgan Road upgrade between Angus Place Colliery and the world class Emirates eco-resort which is currently taking shape in the Wolgan Valley.
In the long-term, the Resort offers potential for more than 120 local jobs and an increase in tourism numbers generally.
LISTENING TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Before I go on, I'd like to say that one of the things all sustainable regional communities have in common is strong and dedicated local and regional governments and Lithgow City Council is a great example.
The Rudd Government has a strong commitment to securing the future of a viable and independent local government structure in Australia.
This year almost $1.9 billion will be provided to local government in financial assistance grants plus $300 million in Roads to Recovery which provides direct funding for use on local roads.
I understand that Lithgow's 2008-09 financial assistance grant allocation will not be known until mid August.
NATIONAL INITIATIVES
Before I close today, I want to briefly outline the roles of two of the big picture lynchpins in our national approach to Infrastructure.
I spoke earlier about the Central West Transport Needs Study.
The findings of the Study will be provided to Infrastructure Australia - the new statutory advisory body we have established to take stock of our existing national infrastructure and find ways to overcome shortcomings.
Infrastructure Australia will draw up a national priority list for action which it will deliver to the Council of Australian Governments - COAG - in March next year.
The list will provide government and industry with a pipeline of projects which will facilitate better long-term planning and construction of key national infrastructure projects.
The Rudd Government has also established a $20 billion Building Australia Fund which in the years to come will be used to build critical infrastructure such as roads, rail, ports and broadband.
As well as being a key element in our macro-economic strategy for tackling inflation and boosting national productivity, the Fund will:
- help our manufacturers, farmers, loggers and miners get their goods to market as quickly and cheaply as possible;
- equip households and businesses with the tools to take full advantage of the Internet and the information revolution it has sparked; and
- improve the functioning and quality of life in our major cities and in regional centres such as Lithgow.
Allocations to the Fund, which we expect to have up and running by January next year - with the first allocations to be made in 2009-10 - will be guided by Infrastructure Australia's audit and priority list.
CLOSING
In closing, I would like to emphasise the importance of today's summit. I encourage you to make the most of the workshops this afternoon.
As the Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development I know that fresh ideas are important. The Rudd Government knows that fresh ideas are important; at both the macro, or national, level ... and the micro, or community, level.
We need sensible, smart and sustainable ideas:
- Ideas which will help us meet the challenges ahead;
- Ideas which help us build on our economic prosperity;
- Ideas which will protect our unique environment; and
- Ideas which will help us establish appropriate social, industrial and economic infrastructure.
Thank you once again for the invitation to join you today - I am genuinely pleased to see your commitment and am looking forward to seeing your proposals.
I can not and will not leave you with the impression that I am father Christmas. However getting organised, building a sensible thoughtful plan, enlisting the right advocates, having faith in your vision will all help.
Thank you for your attendance, for your work, dedication and commitment to Lithgow.
1www.soc.iastate.edu/staff/janflora.html
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