MEDIA RELEASE

The Hon Maxine McKew MP

Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure, Transport,
Regional Development and Local Government

The Australian Coat of Arms

04 September 2009
MM034/2009

Regional Development Australia Seeks Western Australian Community Champions

The new consultative body Regional Development Australia (RDA) is looking for Western Australians who are passionate about their community to help shape the future of their region.

Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Maxine McKew, has called for nominations for the new RDA network of committees to help drive regional development across Western Australia.

Ms McKew said advertisements seeking Expressions of Interest for RDA WA Committee members would be published in metropolitan and regional newspapers in Western Australia this week and next week.

The call for Expressions of Interest for RDA WA closes on Sunday 27 September 2009.

Ms McKew urged suitably-qualified Western Australians to apply for a position on the RDA WA Committees.

"If you want to get involved in nation-building at a regional level, then we want to see your application," Ms McKew said.

"What we need on the new RDA Committees is local people with leadership, vision and the ability to work together in the interests of their region, and I strongly encourage regional Western Australians with such qualities and drive to step forward and nominate."

"We are listening to regional communities, making the largest investment in community infrastructure in the nation's history through our Nation-Building Economic Stimulus Plan, and through RDA seeking the best local advice in a coordinated way."

Eight regional RDAs and a Perth RDA advisory committee are being established to align with Western Australia's Government regions.

This call for nominees follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Commonwealth and Western Australian governments setting out the arrangements for RDA WA.

"Regional Development Australia will significantly improve cooperation across all levels of government for the benefit of the regions," Ms McKew said.

Further information on applying for RDA WA is available at www.rda.gov.au 

Media Contacts

Matt Pulford ( McKew's Office ) 0434 655 781

The Role of Regional Development Australia

RDA is an Australian Government initiative that brings together all levels of government to enhance the growth and development of regional Australia.

RDA will:

  • provide advice to all levels of governments about regional issues;
  • provide information to regional communities on federal government initiatives and programs;
  • help to coordinate regional planning and regional development initiatives; and,
  • establish links and cooperative alliances as appropriate by working closely with regional communities, other regional development organisations including the WA Regional Development Commissions, neighbouring RDA committees and local governments to promote regional development.

 

URL: http://www.minister.infrastructure.gov.au/mm/releases/2009/September/mm034_2009.htm