Barnaby Joyce has dismissed the Productivity Commission’s warning about the government’s decentralisation policy.
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The research and advisory body said forced relocations can have “unintended consequences”, and shouldn’t not be used as a form of “regional assistance” to boost a town’s economy.
However, the Deputy Prime Minister played down the report.
“If you had a Productivity Commission report into Canberra back in 1900, they would have said don’t build Canberra,” Mr Joyce said.
“If you had a Productivity Commission report into Australia from England in the 1880s or in 1787 they would have said ‘Don’t go to Australia’. If you would have had a Productivity Commission report into public transport, you’d shut it down.
“These things are to guide you but they’re not to rule you.” Details of Mr Joyce’s plan to decentralise government agencies to regional areas are expected to be announced in the Budget on Tuesday night.
Jamieson Murphy
Newcastle Herald news director and business reporter. Interested in any and all yarns. Whisper g'day mate to me at jamieson.murphy@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Newcastle Herald news director and business reporter. Interested in any and all yarns. Whisper g'day mate to me at jamieson.murphy@austcommunitymedia.com.au
