Decentralisation ‘farce’: Just 16 government jobs to go bush

JUST 16 jobs are being relocated to the bush under the Federal Government’s plans to move government agencies out of major cities.

JUST 16 jobs are being relocated to the bush under the Federal Government’s plans to move government agencies out of major cities.

And a ministerial taskforce designed to focus exclusively on regional Australia has met just twice since its launch 15 months ago.

Earlier this month in the Government’s federal Budget, it was revealed six government agencies would be moving — to locations including Perth, Adelaide and Parramatta.

Last week, the Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities revealed that of the 98 jobs relocating in the first round, 82 are going to other capital cities, including 40 to Adelaide.

Shepparton, Wodonga, Toowoomba and Dubbo will share the 16 jobs destined for country Australia.

Labor’s regional services and local government spokesman Stephen Jones said the decentralisation policy — touted as bringing hundreds of jobs to regional areas — was “a complete farce” and a “fizzer”.

Another seven unnamed government agencies were now also being investigated for possible relocation.

However, department secretary Steven Kennedy said this was not a final list and the number may rise.

“It will be some time before we’d be able to answer precisely how many are under consideration and what they are,” Dr Kennedy said.

Department staff also confirmed that the Government’s regional ministerial taskforce — launched last March by former Nationals deputy Fiona Nash — has met just twice.

The office of Regional Development Minister John McVeigh told The Weekly Times the taskforce remained in place.

“Meetings take place as required, with the next meeting to occur in the near future,” a spokeswoman said.

Mr McVeigh’s office did not answer when asked what the taskforce’s agenda was, and what it had achieved so far, only saying it had been “a key driver” of many of the Government’s rural and regional Australia initiatives.