Federal Leader of The Nationals Warren Truss has strongly supported commitments to locate more government agencies in regional centres instead of Canberra.
Mr Truss, the Member for Wide Bay, was commenting on statements by Parliamentary Secretary Andrew Leigh who has scorned the plan.
“Government agencies should be as close as possible to the people they serve. It makes good sense to see more government jobs located in regional Australia rather than in over crowded cities,” Mr Truss said.
“During the period of the former Coalition Government, regional offices, call centres, IT hubs, and defence establishments were rolled out in regional areas – and we should do it again. The Maryborough Centrelink call centre has been an excellent example of a successful decentralised facility.”
Mr Truss said Mr Leigh had attacked the idea saying it was “what you would expect to hear from a fringe separatist figure rather than a would-be Prime Minister”.
“Clearly, Labor is more concerned about jobs in Canberra than those in regional Australia,” Mr Truss said.
“From his statements, it seems Mr Leigh does not want the Australian Antarctic Division based in Hobart, or the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority in Townsville, or the placement of major agencies, or their service functions, in regional areas.
“Regional areas are great places for government agencies – the administration costs are lower than major cities, there is great staff loyalty and so less staff turnover costs, and they boost local communities and the local economy.
“They can help a regional town come through the tough times like droughts and natural disasters, by providing a more diversified base to the local economy.
“Regional areas should be able to vigorously compete to attract things like the headquarters of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, rather than just assuming it should be located in Canberra.
“Mr Leigh, in addition to his duties as Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, is the Member for Canberra and he should not be allowed to pork barrel his own electorate at the expense of regional Australia.
“The key to strong local economies is having jobs – and Australian Government jobs should be located across Australia.”
