- Published:
- Tuesday 17 November 2015
The Andrews Labor Government today unveiled Victoria’s Regional Statement, a new vision for our regions that will change the way government works with the Ovens Murray region.
Premier Daniel Andrews today joined Minister for Regional Development, Jaala Pulford, and regional leaders from across the state at Brown Brother’s Winery in Milawa, to launch the Regional Statement and outline the Labor Government’s commitment to rural and regional Victorians.
The Regional Statement will give regional communities a stronger voice in government decision-making by directing priorities identified by regional communities straight into the heart of the Labor Government’s agenda.
The centrepiece of the Statement is the establishment of nine new Regional Partnerships across the state, with representatives from community, business and all three levels of government.
The Partnerships will be formed in nine regions covering rural and regional Victoria, which have been defined to reflect the real communities-of-interest that exist throughout regional Victoria.
The new Ovens Murray Region, which encompasses Shire of Alpine, Rural City of Benalla, City of Wodonga Shire of Indigo, Shire of Mansfield, Shire of Towong and Rural City of Wangaratta, will have its own Regional Partnership, ensuring government decisions and investments reflect the priorities of the families, workers and businesses in Ovens Murray.
The Statement outlines the Labor Government’s significant commitments and investments for regional Victorians and highlights the opportunities and challenges for the Ovens Murray region.
The Labor Government will work with the Ovens Murray region to address these challenges, including:
- Improving economic development through employment clusters, workforce skills development, providing opportunities for adult learning, and attracting and retaining skilled workers
- Attracting international visitors to the area’s natural attractions, particularly in the alpine and north east food and wine areas
- Supporting Central Business District revitalisation in regional cities to enhance liveability and improve their role as service centres
The Statement also outlines a number of new initiatives that will put the Government back to work for the Ovens Murray, including:
- Developing a $34 million Regional Skills and Training package that will help local communities in Ovens Murray, particularly disadvantaged groups and areas, access the training they need to get the jobs they want
- Investing up to $25 million to upgrade ‘first and last kilometre’ routes across regional Victoria through the Agriculture Infrastructure and Jobs Fund. This will grow local agriculture by cutting travel times and costs for Ovens Murray Region producers
- Developing a pipeline of the ten most significant regional tourism projects to fully realise the economic potential of the State’s iconic assets, creating jobs, attracting new generations of domestic and international tourists, and increasing visitor spending opportunities
The Regional Statement is available online at www.regions.vic.gov.au, along with details of the Labor Government’s commitments and projects currently underway to support the Ovens Murray region.
Quotes attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews
“We’re putting government back to work for the Ovens Murray region with a commitment to create jobs, provide a better start for young people and ensure a brighter future for families and communities.”
“The Statement will make sure that, more than ever, government is working for regional communities. Not those with the loudest voices – but the families, workers and communities that are the heart and soul of regional Victoria.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Development Jaala Pulford
“No government should ever take regional Victoria for granted. Families in Ovens Murray deserve a government that works as hard as they do – and that’s what this Statement is all about.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes
“Our new approach will harness input directly from our regions so that government decisions and investments reflect what really matters to Ovens Murray families, workers and communities.”