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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-03-23 Daily Xml
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REGIONAL COMMUNITIES CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (15:09): 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. J.S.L. DAWKINS: On 20 December last year, the former minister for regional development, the Hon. Michael O'Brien, issued a media release calling for public nominations for the Regional Communities Consultative Council (otherwise known as the RCCC) for the next three years. Nominations closed on 14 January 2011, and the announcement of the successful applicants was to be made in February this year. Given that we are now well into March and still no announcement has been made, I ask the new minister the following questions:

1. Why has there been a delay in announcing the successful applicants?

2. How many people were nominated by the close of nominations?

3. How many positions are available?

4. When will the announcement be made?

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) (15:10): I thank the honourable member for his important questions. The Regional Communities Consultative Council (RCCC) was established by the government to make recommendations on ways in which the government and regional communities can work together to strengthen the capacity of communities to be able to respond to local issues. It provides relatively independent policy advice and has an important role in providing a voice for regional communities.

The RCCC has held 29 regional meetings across South Australia since the council was formed in 2002, each time consulting directly with community and business leaders in the area. The RCCC held two meetings in 2010-11, which were at Wallaroo and Port Lincoln, and provided advice on a wide range of issues, such as the regional blueprints recommended by the Economic Development Board, the review of the natural resources management plan, the Skills For All strategy, National Health and Hospitals Network health reform, the marine parks, wind farms—as I said, a wide range of different issues.

Members of the RCCC bring a regional perspective to a number of government advisory and working groups, including the drought response task force, the Volunteer Ministerial Advisory Group and the Community Engagement Board. The term of the RCCC concluded on 31 December 2010, and over this period Mr Peter Blacker was the chair of the council. He also chairs the Community Engagement Board and the country health task force.

A scorecard report is currently being prepared outlining the achievements of the RCCC over its previous term, from 2008 to 2010. A public call for nominations to appoint members to the RCCC for up to a three-year period to December 2013 commenced on 13 December 2010 and concluded on 14 January. Appointments are expected to be made in the coming months.

The terms of reference were updated by the former minister, and I am very keen to have a very close look at those. The context has changed considerably in terms of the federal government's announcement and commitment to RDAs. As the new Minister for Regional Development—and I have only been in that position now for six or seven weeks—I am very keen to make sure that we ensure that the RCCC is the right fit for the current structures, given that they have changed since the federal government's announcement.

As the new Minister for Regional Development, I want to make sure that we set up the new appointments and that the terms of reference are in line with our future needs and are best placed to serve and provide a voice for regional Australia into the future. I am very keen to make sure that I have adequate time to consider that carefully and do not rush into it. I have made a few statements publicly along these lines in the last couple of weeks or so.

I have also spoken to Peter Blacker about this, so he knows that I am giving it due consideration and thought. I am hoping to be meeting with some of the former council members in the foreseeable future. I think, if we have not already, we are certainly looking to set up some meetings and delegations so that I can be provided with the best information possible to move forward, and that includes terms of reference numbers etc. and the actual members. So, I will consider that carefully and ensure that we have the right people doing the right job for the future of regional South Australia.

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