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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-06-06 Daily Xml
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REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AUSTRALIA

The Hon. S.G. WADE (14:41): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Regional Development a question relating to Regional Development Australia bodies in South Australia.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: Each year the Weatherill Labor government has slashed funding to regional South Australia. From 30 June this year the state government will stop funding the seven Regional Development Australia bodies in South Australia. As a result, RDA bodies in Eyre and Western, Far North, Yorke and Mid North, Barossa, Murray and Mallee, Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island, and Limestone Coast will lose a total of $4.083 million in funding.

The previous agreement was based on the state government contributing $3 for every $1 contributed by local government. Once the funding agreement ceases on 30 June this year, I understand that the local government funding will no longer be assured and the viability of the bodies is threatened. I ask the minister:

1. Has she received feedback from the seven RDAs as to whether they have sourced alternative funding from 30 June 2013?

2. Will the minister commit to working with the seven RDAs to establish alternative funding sources to ensure their continuation?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (14:43): I thank the honourable member for his most important questions. This government takes the development of our regions very seriously and has worked very hard to assist in providing significant economic drivers for our regions. It has been placed on the record before in this place the changes that were made to RDA funding some time ago. When I became regional development minister I took a very close look at that and believed that some funding needed to be resumed, and that level of funding was pretty much at the same level as the commonwealth government's contribution to RDAs. After all, this regional development structure was a federal government initiative, and although it is in partnership with state and local government, it nevertheless was a federal initiative; they were the driver.

I believe that it is quite reasonable that, as a tripartite member, we contribute on par with the commonwealth government. Indeed, in most cases the South Australian government's contribution certainly exceeds that of the local government contribution, but not in all areas per se. Did we inform the RDAs of those changes well in advance? I set up a new funding structure where funds were specifically designated for RDAs, and then a second funding structure where RDAs were eligible to apply, as well as other organisations. So there were additional funds they could have access to as well.

I encourage the RDAs to look to the RDF funds, stream 2, for additional funding that is available. It is based on a merit system so they need to outline what the initiative is and put that forward. I am happy to work with the RDAs in continuing to look at ways of invigorating their activities. I am always happy to do that: I have done so from the outset and will continue to do so.

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