IN the Federal budget, the Coalition Government committed $2B towards the Regional Accelerator Fund (RAF). Last week, the Minister for Regionalisation, Regional Communications and Regional Education, Senator Bridget McKenzie, sat down with Shepparton’s civic and business leaders at La Trobe University to discuss opportunities under this scheme.
Speaking to the media before the roundtable, Senator McKenzie said the fund will assist regional and rural areas to achieve their goals, which she says are unique to each region around the country.
“We’re hosting a roundtable in Greater Shepp to hear from industry more broadly about where they see themselves in two decades time.”
“This is a two billion dollar, very specifically, targeted program for regional capitals just like Greater Shepparton. We want to back their plans to grow because what works for the Goulburn Valley won’t work for Gladstone, won’t work for Bundaberg.”
“We need to make sure that this community has a clear vision for their future,” she said. “It has to be place-based. Too often we see government, state and federal, walking into towns telling us what’s good for us, this is a $2 billion dollar fund for communities to tell Federal Government what their plans are for the future and how do we actually make that happen.”
The funding will be invested through 12 flagship programs already run by the government, which will go towards supporting and growing infrastructure, and industries such as education, manufacturing, and health.
Guidelines and the rollout should open July 1, but the process will be “competitive,” said Senator McKenzie, with regions around Australia hoping to be considered for funding.
