New regional development committees better late than never

06-August-2009

The State Government has finally announced that it will take on the former Federal Area Consultative Committees (ACCs) after the Rudd Governments snap decision to shut the network down earlier this year.

For over 18 months local ACCs went without funding after the Rudd Government cut the Regional Partnerships Program. Then the Rudd Government announced that they were closing the ACC network, with the intention of handing the responsibility over to State Governments.

Sophie Mirabella, Federal Member for Indi welcomed this agreement which will see nine new networks established in Victoria but has labelled it as “long overdue”.

The Coalition’s ACCs and the Liberal Government’s Regional Partnerships Program provided a strong link and significant funds to North-East Victoria. They identified worthy local projects that required additional Federal Government assistance which would benefit rural communities and rural infrastructure.

“The Rudd Government announced that it would shut down the ACC network by June 30 2009, yet has taken into August to reach an agreement with the State Government,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“I remain disappointed that the Rudd Government chose to close the Federal Government’s Area Consultative Committee (ACC),” Mrs Mirabella said.

The closure of the ACC network now means that the Federal Government no longer has a direct role in regional development, “Mr Rudd is essentially throwing away his ties with rural regions like North-East Victoria,” Mrs Mirabella said.

At the time of the Rudd Government announcement, ACC staff were told there would be a transition to the new system. There has been no transition and no discussion and no thanks for the job they have done. “Staff were simply told that the network would cease operations and be wound up by the end of July,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“I spoke in Parliament in March to thank the local ACC staff and volunteers personally for the work that they have done in the local area and frankly I’m surprised that Mr Rudd hasn’t taken the time to do the same,” Mrs Mirabella said.

In her speech to Parliament Mrs Mirabella singled out the enormous efforts of paid and volunteer staff: Eric Lund (Chairman North East Victoria Area Consultative Committee), Shane O’Brien (NVACC), Joan Ross (NVACC), Bert Eastoe (Chairman Albury Wodonga Area Consultative Committee) and Ray Hortle (AWACC) as well as the committee members who have voluntarily served on both of the consultative committees.

“I hope that the State Government will provide support to the staff and volunteers of the new Victorian networks to enable them to continue to assist our local region to access government funding for important projects,” Mrs Mirabella concluded.