The government has announced a senate inquiry into decentralisation and Tamworth councillor Russell Webb is urging the region to capture the moment.
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The inquiry will investigate the pros and cons of moving government bodies from metropolitan areas to regional Australia.
Cr Webb is lobbying to get the senate inquiry to visit Tamworth.
“There is an opportunity to sell ourselves and I really want us to make the best of it,” Cr Webb said.
“They need to go out into regional areas, have a look and hear from people like ourselves.
“We are well placed to provided them with the information they need to develop and deliver a decentralisation policy into the future.”
Tamworth would welcome any government body willing to relocate, Cr Webb said.
“The way our economy has developed puts us in a good position to provide support to any government or non-government body that might want to decentralise to an area where they can operate their business more affordably,” he said.
“Attached to that, they bring with them specialised staff, who can live much more affordably here then they can in cities or the coastal fringes. And our sporting, recreational and cultural facilities are second to none – it’s a great lifestyle.”
Cr Webb said other regional centres, such as Dubbo and Wagga were in a similar situation.
“It’s not just about those regional hubs, it’s about the wider region they service,” he said. “Because we service a wider region, we are very well position to provide a good grounding.”
Cr Webb asked council to write to Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce and request his help in bring the inquiry to Tamworth.
Mr Joyce told The Leader he was more than happy to throw his support behind the idea. “I would welcome the Canberra-based senate inquiry to visit the New England to hear our views on why we deserve jobs in regional areas, where housing is affordable,” Mr Joyce said.
“Every council, chamber of commerce, CWA and community association in every town must have their say in the new senate inquiry into decentralisation.
“I urge all to tell Canberra and the Labor Party why regional Australia deserves Commonwealth agencies bringing well-paid, skilled jobs.” Submission to the inquiry can be emailed to fpa.sen@aph.gov.au.