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SpeakingupforRegionalAustraliaSEGRA2016Communiqué

ThisyearSEGRAcelebrated20yearsofspeakingupforregionalAustralia.Inreflectingonpastthemesandactionagendas,apessimistmightsaythatthemorethingschangethemoretheystaythesame.Howeverinperusingmanyofthepreviousconferencepapersitisapparentthattherehaveinfactbeensignificantshiftsnotjustinthethinkingunderpinningregionaleconomicdevelopmentbutinthewayswegoaboutbusinessasorganisations,individualsandcollaborators.

ThisCommuniqueaddressessomeofthekeychallengesofregionalAustralia:multipleoverlappingjurisdictions,conflictingsocialobjectivesanddeepuncertaintyaboutthefuture.Twokeyideasfocusedthediscussion:theimportanceofqualityplanningtoincreasecertaintyandtheimportanceoftheprocessthatproducedittorespondtotheuncertainty.

Thepaperspresentedatthisconferencecanbeaccessedat:http://2016.segra.com.au/resource-centre/past-conferences/2016-conference-proceedings

ThethemeforSEGRA2016wasNaturallyStrongerRegions:realisingthepotential

Keyactionagendas:

• Regionalpolicy–SpeakingupforRegionalAustralia• Diversity,specialisationandcreativity–buildingresilience• Sustainabilityofland,waterandcommunity–asenseofplace• Regionalhubsandnodes–improvingconnectivity• Regionsasprovidersofeducation,healthandlifestyleservices• Attractinginvestmenttoregions–findingfundingpartners• Sustainableindustries–theregionaladvantage• MaximisingFreeTradeAgreements–ensuringyourregionisready• Aviationandregionaleconomies• Innovation,technologyandentrepreneurshipinregionalAustralia

Sixunifyingideasemergedacrosstheconferenceprogram:

• CollaborativeGovernance• Entrepreneurship• Technology,innovationandconnectivity• Economicfutures• NaturalCapital

CollaborativeGovernance

Operatinginthe21stCentury

Operatinginthe21stCenturymeansconstantlycreatingnewvalueforcustomers/constituents.Howeverthemeaningofvalue-economicandculturalhasbecomemorecomplexanduncertain,drivenbycompressedattentionspan,self-interest,increasingrecognitionandacceptanceofdiversity.Similarly,theconceptofrationalhasbecomemorecontestedastheunderstandingandavailabilityofinformationandmisinformationisenabledthroughsocialmedia.Thishasparticularimplicationsformarketsbutalsoforgovernmentasdriversofpolicy.Howtodeliverpredictable,stable,effectiveandconsistentgovernmentpolicy,programsandservicesthatarealsoflexible,clientcentredandprofessionallydrivenhasbecomeasignificantconundrum.TheconferencewassetinthecontextoftheRegionalDevelopmentAustraliaForumanddiscussionaboutpotentialrolesandfutureactivitiesoftheRDA.Theconditionsandcontextsofgovernanceinthe21stCenturyarevastlydifferentfromthosethathavegonebefore.Itwasparticularlynotedthatlocalgovernments,especiallyinmoreremoteareas,haverolesbroaderthanthatofenablers.

Therewasconsiderablediscussionabouttheroleofgovernmenttodeliveragainstprudentpublicexpectationsandhowitcouldbestfacilitateinnovationandunlockpublicsectortalentinthisspaceandalsotheirroleinenablingcommunitiestounlockinvestmentcapital.

Individualismandconnectivity

Justasglobalismwasmetbylocalism;individualismseemstobejuxtaposedwithoverwhelmingrequirementstooperateinaneverincreasinglyconnectedworld.Inanageoframpantpoliticalandsocialindividualismitisalsotruethatourlivesasindividualsareonlypossiblethroughincreasinglycomplexrelationshipsofcollectiveefforts.

Theleadershipandgovernancechallengesofrelentlessinnovating,connectingmultiplegroups,rapidmovementandspeedydecisionmakinginthe21stCenturyorganisationincludingstakeholderengagement.

Conversationsrevolvedaroundthe:

• Apparentindividualismofentrepreneurs,• Needforgroupleaderswhocandrivechange,• Changesrequiredoforganisationstoflourishinthe21stcentury,• Theimpactofcompetitivegovernmentfundingoncollaboration,and• Learningtolivewithco-opetitionandco-operation.

Therewassomediscussionabouttheapplicabilityofvariouspolicyprocesstheoriesformanagingambiguity,systemsversusseparateunitsofanalysis,fluctuatingattention,problematicpreferencesandabsenceofanevenshorttermstateofequilibrium.Thenotionsofadvocacycoalitionframeworkswherethepolicysubsystemsaredefinedbyapolicytopic,territorialscopeandtheactorsdirectlyorindirectlyinfluencingthepolicysubsystemswerealsodiscussed.

Implicationsforpracticeemergingthroughthesediscussionsincluded:

• Therearemanymodelsofcollaborationandthattheseneedtobeappropriatelymatchedtothecircumstancesparticularlyinrelationtowherethedecisionmakingauthoritylies.

• Purposefullycreatingdifferent‘coalitionsofinterest’,referencegroups,informationnetworks,communitiesofpracticewillinlargepartneedsomefundingtodeliveroptimaloutcomes.

• Theimportanceoftalkingtoeachotherandconnectingcommunitiesinorganisational.Inter-agencyandcross-jurisdictionalcontexts.

• ThepotentialforRDA’sandLocalGovernmentascoordinatorsofcollaborationandmulti-agencyalignment.

• Recognisingandactivelyplanningforthinkingandcreativetime.• Understandingtheprinciplesofdeliberateinnovationanddesignthinkingandincorporating

themintoorganisationalcultureandstructure.• Allowingstakeholderstotakerisks.(Andinparticularquicklyrecognisingwhenthingsaren’t

workinganddesigningnewresponses).

CommunityDiversityAgreaterrecognitionoftherangeofcomplexhumanbehaviourandmotivationisdemandingmorenuancedinteractionsbetweengovernmentanditscitizens.Thesenuancesarebestrecognisedandvaluedincommunitiesthatactivelyseekout,nurtureandpromotediversityonboards,committeesandmanagementteams.Therewasaparticularemphasisondrawing/retainingmillennialsinthe

regions.ThiswastheWinningChallengeforSEGRA2016-17.Moredetailsaboutthischallengecanbefoundathttp://2016.segra.com.au/program/segra-challenge

However,itwasalsostressedthatleadershipcanemergefromanywhere.


• Providingscholarshipstoencourageyoungerpeople’sparticipationinthecommunity(RDA’shaveawardedscholarshipsfor6youngpeopleforthelasttwoSEGRA).

• Deliberategrowingofacreativeworkforce,Bringingtheartisticintothecommunity.• Includingcreativity,designandthinkinginKPI’s.• Consciousengagementofyoungpeopleinleadershipandentrepreneurship.• Targetingknowledgegraduateswhenrecruitingintoregions.• Gettingyoungpeopleto‘bounceback’toregions.Therewerereportedsuccessesbasedon

regionalinternshipsandselectivemultidisciplinarypostgraduateprojectsinregionalareas.• Activelyengagingandwelcoming‘Peopleunlikeus’.• Activelycreatingopportunitiesforleadershiptoemergeoutsidethenormalchannels.

Entrepreneurship

SEGRA2016attractedanumberofEntrepreneurswhogavekeynoteaddressesandconductedworkshops.TroyHaines,theSpaceSEGRA2015-16challengewinnerconductedanimmersionsessiononBuildingEntrepreneurialEcosystems.TroyisnationallyrecognisedforhisworkregionalAustralia.Therewasaparticularemphasisonthedifferencesinentrepreneurshipandstartupsinregionalareasincomparisonwithhighlyurbanisedareas.CharlesSturtUniversityhasprovidedsignificantresearchsupporttothistopicandpapersareavailableathttp://2016.segra.com.au/segra-challenge/-2.SEGRAhasalsopreviouslypublishedoninnovationinregionalAustraliadrawingonresearchandcaseexamplestodemonstratethenaturaladvantagesregionalAustraliahasinthisspace.ToorderRegionalAdvantageandInnovation:AchievingAustralia’sNationalOutcomesbySusanKinnear,KateCharters,andPeterVitartas(editors)[email protected].


• Recognisingthedifferencesinregionalbusinessforexamplescale(usuallySME’s)anddependencyoflocaleconomy

• Activelypromotinghubsandbusinesshybrids• Activelyseekingcollaborativeinvestment• Appreciatingthecriticalroleofsupplychaininregionalbusiness• Takingeveryopportunitytocatalyseentrepreneurs–bigbusinessgrowfromsmall

businesses.

Technology,innovationandconnectivity

TheNBNismuchanticipatedinfrastructureforregionalAustraliathatwillbecriticalinopeningfurthereconomicopportunities,howeveritisnotinitselfapanacea.Anumberofothernetworkse.g.AARNetandtheopportunitiestheyprovidewerepresented.Technologyalsobringsuncertaintyandincreasesthepaceofchange,howeverthereispathdependency.

Muchhasbeenmadeoftheimportanceoflinkinginnovationandtechnologytoresearchcapacityandviceversa.Therewasalsoconsiderablediscussionofevidenceandpolicyintheposttrutheraandtheroleofuniversitiesinthe‘Impact‘agenda.Thisisadifferentdiscussionfromtheissuesthatarisefrominformationversusmisinformationinsocialmedia,butratherlooksattheissuesofdatarelevanceduetolaggingtimesandthebalanceofresearchknowledgeandpoliticalimperative.

Somekeymessagesformaximisingtechnology,innovationandconnectivityintermsofenergyincluded:

• Avisionandbeliefthatitcanbedone• Politicalwilltoinitiateanddeliver• Appropriateindependentcorporateentitytodrivetheinitiative• Powerpurchasingagreementstoguaranteecashflow• Suitableplacestolocateprojects• Eclecticandopenmindstowardsthetechnologymixtogenerateandstoreelectricity• Identifiedcollaborative/innovativePPPfundingsources.


• Researchorganisationsbeingmoreagileandresponsivetogapsinunderstandingandknowledgeearlier.

• Activelyencouragingresearcherstoactlocal.SEGRAoffersscholarshipstoemergingacademicstoencourageandmentorregionalresearchinterest.

• Appreciationofhowresearchandevidencecaninformpolicyratherthandeterminepolicy.

EconomicFutures

ThreekeyelementsemergedduringSEGRA2016:

i. Livingwithuncertaintyii. Livingwithinvestmentcyclesinresourcereigonsiii. Financingregionalbusiness

i. LivingwithuncertaintyRegionalAustraliahasalongtraditionofinnovationparticularlyinagriculturehowevertheimpactoftheincreasinguncertaintybroughtaboutbymacroissues(waterallocation,climatevariability,marketandmonetarytrends)affectingtheirlivelihoodishavingsignificantimpactsonsomesectorsofregionalAustraliaproductivity.Theoptionstodiversifyandbeagileareconstrainedformanyruralandregionalenterprisesastheyarefacedwiththedubiouschoiceofsurfingorstandingagainstthewavesofuncertainty.

ii. Livingwithinvestmentcyclesinresourceregions

Manyregionshavestruggledwiththetransitiontopostminingconstructionphaseanddownturninthecommodityprices.Theuniqueissuesassociatedwithprovidinghousingandthedramaticimpactofmarketforcesonhousingpricingisaparticularplanningchallenge.Therewasconsiderablediscussionbetweenregionsaboutthevariousalternativesandhybridmodelsofaccommodatinglargeshorttermworkforcesinimpactedcommunities.Therewasalsoattentiongiventostrategiestomaximisethewellbeingofflyin/flyoutordrivein/driveoutworkforcesandtheirfamilies.

Diversityoflocaleconomiesisseenasonewayofincreasingregionalrobustness.Inparticulartheneedtoidentifyandperuselocalvalue-addingopportunitieswithinaregionwasidentified.

Agricultureandfood

TherehavebeensignificantattitudeshiftsinAustraliatosupportlocalfoodwithanumberofregionalcitieslookingmorecloselyatthevalueaddoffoodandfibreasaregionalbrand.Therapidapplicationofnewwatertreatmentandhydroponictechnologyhasalsoopenedopportunitiesforlocalfoodhubsinconjunctionwithcollaborativemodelsofbusiness.Againtheroleofresearchpartnershipswashighlighted.

InrecentyearsAustraliahassignedanumberofhighqualitycomprehensivefeetradeagreements.Thesehaveimprovedmarketaccessforgoods,servicesanddeliveringmorebusinessandinvestmentopportunities.Alongsidethishasbeenanincreasingfocusonfactorssuchasstandardprofessionalqualificationsintellectualpropertyrights,tariffbarriersandbiosecurity.Akeyfocusof

theconversationsaroundfreetradeagreementsrelatedtowherethebenefitsfallandhowtomaximisetheretentionofbenefitsinregionalAustralia

Tourism

Foranumberofyears,theemerginginterestingeotourismhassparkedalotofinterestwithanumberofsignificantprojectsbeingconsideredbythiscluster.CulturalandIndigenoustourismwerealsofeaturedatSEGRA2016.Theimportanceofplaceagaincomingtotheforeandtheappetiteoftouristsforuniqueexperiencesandregionswithuniqueattributes.Theimportanceofcollaborationonbrandingandattractionwasarecurringtheme.

AwordofcautionForsometimetherehasbeenconcernabouttheplanningaroundregionalsettlementattraction.Issuesraisedhaveincludedthetwoedgedswordofdevelopmentanddisruptiontocurrentlifestyles,therisksoffurtherurbanisationofproductivelandscapes(especiallyinperiurbanareasofregionalcities)andtheoverregulationandlackofharmonisationofregulationinmanyagriculturalendeavours.ThislatterissueiscurrentlybeforetheProductivityCommission.iii. Financingregionalbusiness

TheissueofattractinginvestmentintoregionalAustraliahasbeengainingmomentumatSEGRAforanumberofyears,andacollaborativeinvestmentchallengearisingfromSEGRA2013isclosetofinalisingandtriallinganASICcompliantplatform.TheinvolvementofanumberofsuccessfulregionalentrepreneursatSEGRA2016hasopenedopportunitiestoexpandunderstandingandcapacityamongstdelegatesinhowtoaccesswealthgeneratingexpertise,businessinvestmentandindustryvalueaddingintoregionalAustralia.Thesewillbefurtherprogressedthroughout2016/17andreportedbackatSEGRA2017


• Ongoingeffortstocreateregionalbrandinghighlightinguniqueregionalattributesviaasingle,consistentmarketingeffort.

• LeveragingthesuccessfulexamplesofIndigenouseconomicdevelopmentmodelsshowcasedatSEGRAtofurthereconomicdevelopmentopportunitiesespeciallyinremoteAustralia.

• Trackingtourists’behaviourintermsoftravelmodesandmeans,recreationalactivitiesandexpenditurebehaviours.

• Activelydevelopingagri-tourism,geotourism,restorationtourismandIndigenoustourism.Examplesoftheroleofstoriesandthecontextualnarrativewasfeaturedandhadsomeusefultransferrablelearnings.

• AgreateremphasisonhighlyplannedurbanisationofregionalAustraliawithdueregardtothescaleandfootprintofsettlements.

• Theimportanceofunderstandingandleveragingthecurrententhusiasmforlocallysourced

productandemergenceoffoodfestivalsandfoodhubs.• Thevalueoffoodandfibreaspartofaregionalbrand.• ActiveengagementofinvestorsandbusinessdevelopersinregionalAustraliaparticularlyin

catalystinfrastructureandvalueaddingopportunities.• Implementingstrategiestosupportandencouragethecreativeeconomy.

Economicparticipationandproductivity

Overthelast50years,asaresultofinnovationandtechnologytherehavebeenlargechangesintheskillcompositionofemployment,withconsistentgrowthinemploymentofhigh-skillworkers,alargedeclineintheshareofmiddle-skillworkersandasmallerdeclineinlow-skillworkers.Understandingandappreciatingthesetrendsataplacebasedscalewasseenascriticalaswastheimperativetoimprovethelevelofeducationparticipationandskillsretentioninregionalcommunities.ThePeople’sChoicewinneroftheSEGRA2016/17ChallengedirectlyaddressestheseissuesandtogetherDeakinUniversityandBendigoBankarefacilitatinglocalpartnershipwithleadersfromindustry,education,communityandgovernmenttodevelopeducationandskillsplansthatunderpinregionalgrowthandprosperity.TheChallengehasalreadybeenpilotedintheWesternRiverinaandanumberofregionsintendconductingfurtherdemonstrationprojectsinto2016/17.TheoutcomeswillbepresentedatSEGRA2017TheWinningChallengeforSEGRA2016/17was:Howmightweretainyoungtalentinregions?OverthenexttwelvemonthsthisChallengeGroupwilllookathowtoinspire,empowerandharnessthepassionthatlieswithinmillennialsintheregionsandenablethemtobeactiveparticipantsinthenewandvibranteconomy.


• Understandinganddevelopingtheabstractandcreativethinkingskillsrequiredforthefutureregionalworkforce.

• Understandingthedifferentrequirementsforworkforceswiththeseskillsandthereforebusinessstructures.

• AppreciatingthelikelycareerprogressionsforSTEMlivingandworkinginregionalAustralia.• Identifyingthemiddleorderjobsinthefieldoftechnologyandtheskillsrequiredtofill

them.

NaturalCapital

SinceitsinceptionSEGRAhasbeencommittedtointegratedregionaldevelopmentandassuchthesocio-ecologicalsystemhasalwaysbeenanimportantpartoftheSEGRAprogram.Thisyeartherewasastrongfocusonsystemsthinkingasamethodformanagingconditionofambiguityanduncertaincontextandwhatgovernancemodelsmightsystemstheorypropose.AnumberofcasestudiesbyNaturalResourceManagementbodieshighlightedtheopportunitiescreatedbysupraregionalcollaborations.ForanumberofyearsSEGRAhasbeenconductingachallengeontheengagementoflocalcommunitiesintheimplementationoftheMurrayDarlingBasinPlan,workingcollaborativelywiththeMurrayDarlingAssociationandlocalgovernments.

TheSEGRAchallengeonsafeandsecuredomesticwaterforpeoplelivingoutsideoftownwaterhasgainedconsiderabletractionwithanumberofprivatepublicpartnershipopportunitiesemerging.AgainsupraregionalcollaborationhasbeenafeatureofthisinitiativeledbyEtheridgeShireCouncil.

Also,itwasrecognisedthatwealreadyhaveproventechnologytostoreelectricitychemicallyandthermally.However,itwasalsoacknowledgedthatwedon’tyethave24/7atthedecentralisedcommunityscalesinAustralia.Andthatthetechnologyusedoverseasforthermalstoragewasdevelopedinthiscountry.Conservationandenvironmentalvaluescanaddconsiderablytothesenseofplaceandregionalbranding.


• Greaterrecognitionofsocio-ecologicalsystemsinpolicyagendasetting,scopingandscale.• SeizingtheopportunitiesofthedevelopmentofnorthernAustraliatoimplementbest

practicesustainableeconomicdevelopment.• Applicationsofdigitaltechnologytoincreasepeople’sunderstandingoflocalenvironments

asresidentsandtouristse.g.geotourisminterpretiveapps.• Minimisingimpactsoftourismthroughbestpracticeecotourism.

SEGRAwouldliketoacknowledgeandthankoursponsorsfor2016

JoinusforSEGRA2017

PortAugusta,UpperSpencerGulf,SA

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FormoreinformationaboutSEGRApleasevisitwww.segra.com.au.ContactKateCharterson0408882871

AboutSEGRA

SEGRAisrecognisedasAustralia’smostcredibleindependentvoiceonissuesaffectingregionalAustralia.

SEGRAactstoprovideendtoendvaluetoregionalAustraliausingasystemsapproachto:

1. RaisetheprofileofregionsasessentialwithinAustralia’snationaloutlook.2. Empowerregionstoberesponsiblefortheirowndestinies.3. Identifyideas,regionalissuesandopportunities.4. Influence policy by encouraging evidence based responses and supporting practice-based

researchandprojects.5. Promoteregionalconnectivity.

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