REGIONAL COMMUNITIES CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (14:37): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Regional Development a question about the Regional Communities Consultative Council.

Leave granted.

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: The Rann Labor government has an extensive record in consulting and engaging with regional communities. Indeed, the government established the Regional Communities Consultative Council in November 2002. The council has been chaired by Mr Peter Blacker, a former member of parliament and a community leader with a strong history of involvement with regional South Australia across the state. Activities have been held across regional South Australia, including with local government regional councils, regional development boards, farming communities, rural consultancies, churches and community services.

The RCCC has been an important voice for regional communities, raising and responding to many key matters affecting the regions and, in particular, has been able to bring a regional perspective to some key state-wide planning processes and policy development. Will the minister inform the chamber what role she expects the Regional Communities Consultative Council to play in the future and who will be members of the council?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for Gambling) (14:38): I thank the honourable member for her most important question. The Regional Communities Consultative Council (RCCC), has indeed played a very important role in advising the Minister for Regional Development since it was established by this government as an independent advisory body in November 2002.

The council provides advice to the minister on ways in which the government and regional communities can work together to strengthen the capacity of communities to respond to current and also emerging local issues. Members also look at opportunities to maximise the competitive advantage of regional South Australia. The council is an important voice for regional communities.

Since it was formed there have been 29 regional meetings across South Australia, each time consulting directly with community and business leaders. The council has considered and made recommendations on issues such as shared services reform, regionalisation of South Australia's strategic plan, the national health and hospitals network and also the ongoing impact of drought on regional communities.

The last council comprised, I believe, 20 members, and its term expired on 31 December 2010. In late 2010 or early 2011 a public call for nominations was advertised across the state to establish the new RCCC, and 60 nominations were received, which, I believe, is evidence of the really high regard in which the council is held by people in regional South Australia. I have to say that I was most impressed with all 60 nominations.

The previous minister recently updated the terms of reference for the council. I can advise that the terms of reference for the council include:

advising me on the broad impact of decisions on regional communities;

opportunities for initiatives to advance social, economic and environmental development across regional South Australia;

the opportunities and challenges in the provision of government programs and services;

access to information on government initiatives, programs and services;

advise and advocate change within regional communities within government; and

through me, as Minister for Regional Development, advise the state government ministers and cabinet on matters that may have been referred to the council from time to time.

The government's intention was to give the council a stronger strategic focus. As a consequence, the new council will consist of 11 members. Through the appointments, which I will announce today, I have sought to provide a balance of representation across regional economic, social, cultural and environmental sectors, as well as community experience, gender and geographic location.

I should say that, of the 11 council members, I have reappointed six members, including the chair, Mr Peter Blacker, who, I have to say, was delighted to accept the reappointment, and also Mark Braes as the deputy chair. I have appointed five new members to assist in the regeneration and refocus of the direction of the council.

I think that these appointments will provide an opportunity for succession planning, building leadership capability in communities, as well as attracting valuable new skills and expertise. I would particularly like to acknowledge the work of Mr Peter Blacker in chairing the council and providing the leadership that he has done in the past, which is obviously why I have asked him again to take up the chair position.

I have asked the Department of Trade and Economic Development to work closely with the council to develop a work program that focuses on key emerging opportunities and issues for regional communities. It is envisaged that the RCCC will invite members of the local community to join its meetings in regions as it has done before. Finally, and most importantly, I would like to thank all the former members of the council for their incredibly valuable contributions and their hard work and dedication; and I thank those who have nominated in this particular round for their interest.