MEDIA RELEASE

The Hon Maxine McKew MP

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

The Australian Coat of Arms

22 February 2010
MM009/2010

First National Forum for Regional Development Champions

Maxine McKew, Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development, has announced that Chairs and Deputy Chairs of Regional Development Australia (RDA) committees from across the country will come together at the first RDA National Forum in Canberra on 18 March.

Ms McKew said the Forum would provide a valuable opportunity for the committees to exchange information and ideas about issues facing their regions, as well as strategies to address these common challenges.

"Last year the Rudd Government set about the ambitious task of overhauling the former Area Consultative Committees to give regional Australia a fresh, new voice," said Ms McKew.

"This key regional election commitment is now complete with 55 RDA committees appointed in all states and territories and currently working with their communities to identify issues, articulate local priorities and develop a Regional Plan."

"All regions have their own unique issues. Our role as a Government is to facilitate the exchange of ideas and knowledge, and help the committees learn from others' experiences."

The first RDA National Forum will take place at Parliament House and will include keynote addresses from pre-eminent thinkers on issues affecting regional Australia.

"Australia's regions face common challenges including developing local responses to social and environmental issues, such as extreme weather, climate change and managing population change," said Ms McKew.

"A number of committees have already made significant achievements in improving the coordination of regional development initiatives and developing and strengthening local communities and I look forward to sharing and showcasing these successes."

Ms McKew again congratulated the committee members on their appointments and looked forward to working with them on continuing to integrate the work of all levels of Government and on building local partnerships.

For more information and up to date news on RDA, go to www.rda.gov.au

 

URL: http://www.minister.infrastructure.gov.au/mm/releases/2010/February/mm009_2010.htm