Decentralisation must be a major policy issue in November’s state election. There has been increasing debate across Australia about immigration levels and our future population. Diverse figures such as former PM Tony Abbott and former NSW premier Bob Carr have argued for lower immigration rates. However, the federal government and other community leaders have argued that maintaining immigration levels is essential for economic growth. I share the latter view, but with a very clear need to moderate the growth of our major cities and to actively encourage decentralisation.
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Victoria needs a clear, strong policy framework which delivers the benefits of population growth but targets the lion's share of that growth to our regional communities. They have the capacity, infrastructure and desire for greater levels of population. These communities would be enormously enriched by new residents, whether new migrants or people leaving our overcrowded cities for a better, more affordable lifestyle.
Melbourne has proudly been the world’s most liveable city for seven successive years, but overcrowding is causing congestion, unaffordable housing and concerns about safety. This overcrowding damages everyone’s quality of life. Fortunately, there is a win-win solution. That is to encourage and facilitate decentralisation. At the coming election, we need policies that retain the benefits of growth, without choking Melbourne, through decentralisation.
Recent Victorian governments have successfully dipped their toes into the waters of decentralisation. Credit to the Bracks government which successfully relocated the TAC to Geelong. The previous Coalition government delivered the National Disability Insurance Scheme headquarters to Geelong and also committed to relocate WorkCover there. These decisions have transformed Geelong, which is booming despite the closures of Ford and the Point Henry smelter. It’s a pity the Andrews government failed to implement the previous government’s planned relocation of VicRoads headquarters to Ballarat. The belated announcement to place a part of VicRoads in Ballarat is a poor second best.
Relocating agencies with hundreds of jobs and families boosts regional communities and takes these workers off Melbourne’s overcrowded public transport and roads. Having public sector leaders working in our regions delivers direct benefits to the region and also the whole state, as they bring their regional experiences into government decision making.
It is disappointing the city-centric Andrews government dropped the ball on regional development by gutting the former government’s Regional Growth Fund, axing the effective Rural Living Expo and abolishing the country roads and bridges program. In addition, Mr Andrews seems determined to wreck the CFA, which has protected rural Victoria for decades. In contrast, the Coalition has commited to growing opportunities and populations across our state. It has outlined that Victoria must become a state of cities, not a city state and has promised a dedicated decentralisation minister.
Across regional Victoria, house prices are more affordable, unemployment rates are generally lower, the quality of life and opportunities are enormous with less time in gridlock and more time for family, sport or cultural pursuits. Victoria urgently needs a decade of decentralisation to ensure we retain the benefits of growth while protecting and enhancing our great quality of life.
