Growing vibrant and well-connected regions will be essential to Australia’s future development and success, with funding announced in last night’s Federal Budget confirming the regions’ pivotal role in the nation’s future.
Regional Australia Institute (RAI) CEO Liz Ritchie said the regions are at the forefront of Australia’s economic growth, as a centre of renewable energy and new manufacturing industries, along with traditional strongholds of mining, agriculture and tourism.
“Regional Australia is undergoing a renaissance, with recent record movement of people from Australia’s capital cities and a significant capital investment pipeline through the development of renewable energy products and downstream industries under the net zero transition. The regions are key to Australia’s future and when regional Australia is prosperous, so too is our nation,” Ms Ritchie said.
“The Federal Government’s ongoing commitment to its Regional Investment Framework acknowledges the 9.8 million people who live in the regions and the important position they play in supporting the national economy. The government’s recommitment to large scale policy programs and progress, such as a universal childhood education and care system, the National Housing Accord and the Future Made in Australia Fund to name a few, is welcomed and the RAI looks forward to working with government to ensure the regions are adequately prioritised and at the centre of these initiatives.
“Housing remains critical to ensuring regional Australia can continue to support those who live, and want to live, regionally. The expansion of the New Energy Apprenticeships Program to critical residential construction occupations nods to the growing need for skilled workers in this area; while the initiatives to improve certification, remove red tape and invest $54m in prefabricated and modular homes projects that are well suited to regional, rural and remote areas, speak directly to the recommendations from the RAI’s 2024 National Regional Housing Summit.
“The RAI strongly supports dedicated regional housing funding, to ensure the growing communities outside of capital cities are treated equitably and we look forward to learning more about how these initiatives will be rolled out.
“Likewise, further investment in the Regional Home Buyer Guarantee and Help to Buy programs will assist prospective regional homeowners, particularly in markets where obtaining finance can be difficult.
“The $250m allocation to accelerate the domestic low carbon liquid fuels industry is vitally important, given rural, regional and remote areas support fossil-fuel intensive industries such as mining, agriculture, transport and manufacturing and rely on goods being transported from major centres.”
The RAI also welcomes a range of Budget measures which will impact regional communities including around access to health services, digital and mobile connectivity and the movement of trades workers over state borders.
- $265m over four years to expand the general practitioner (GP) and rural generalist (RG) training pipeline, with 50% of the additional GP training places to be in regional and rural areas.
- The introduction of a Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation to provide equitable access to baseline outdoor mobile coverage across Australia
- Cutting red tape by working with states and territories on national licensing for electrical trades.
Ms Ritchie also welcomed the Federal Government’s $2m commitment to the RAI in 2025-26 to continue research, policy and knowledge capacity building to support best practice activities.
“This funding will enable us to maintain our important research into the biggest issues affecting regional Australia, providing insights for both residents and decision-makers alike about how outcomes in the regions can be improved,” Ms Ritchie said.
The Budget papers forecast ongoing population growth with Australia’s population reaching 29 million by 2028-29.
“The RAI and our stakeholders continue to advocate for a National Population Plan to provide the long term, strategic thinking and tools for policy makers to plan regional settlement for optimal social, economic and environmental outcomes.”
Ms Ritchie said the RAI looked forward to continuing to work with government to advise on the implementation of initiatives funded in the Budget, across regional Australia.