There’s no doubt it was a challenging summer for people right across Victoria, particularly tourism operators and small business in regional areas as many of the usual visitors stayed away because of the Omicron wave. And often business was hit with a double effect of not enough staff and having to turn customers away.

But as case numbers have subsided and restrictions have been further eased, we’re all able to once again move freely around the state and this has been good for business. This was evident over the recent long weekend and we know autumn is a glorious time of year in Regional Victoria and extremely popular for tourists.

We’ve also seen a significant shift in population to Regional Victoria during the pandemic as people have moved to hybrid working and taken advantage of the lifestyle offered outside of Melbourne. Small and medium business continue to form the backbone of Regional Victoria’s economy.

Regional Victoria will play an important role in Victoria’s economic recovery and that’s why it’s a significant focus of the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s submission for the 2022-23 State Budget.

After two difficult years, this will be a critical budget for Victoria as we look to turbocharge our economic recovery and move forward to create a state that is the best place to live, work, learn and operate a business.

Business must play the leading role in our recovery and this Budget must enable, grow and ease the cost of doing business, so as to boost jobs and investment across right the state and not just in Metropolitan Victoria.

That’s why a number of our 73 recommendations to the Victorian Government are centred on Regional Victoria. These include providing funding over four years for a business case each year for uninterrupted high-speed trains to the regions on dedicated lines from Southern Cross Station, starting with Ballarat, and begin collaborating with the Federal Government on a joint funding model for the project.

Fast rail connections between Regional and Metropolitan Victoria would decrease commute time and improve the availability of labour in Victoria’s fastest growing regional centres. A 45-minute commute between Ballarat and Melbourne could be a reality and provide the blueprint to rollout further highspeed trains to other regional centres to improve connectivity. The State Government should also bring forward the work on Geelong fast rail.

We also know that regional businesses are facing a lack of skilled, available workers alongside a long-term youth unemployment crisis. Regional areas also consistently report under-investment in services and feeling left out of metro-centric economic development plans.

To address these issues, the Victorian Chamber recommends a targeted, industry-led ‘Work in the Regions’ initiative that focusses on industries experiencing acute shortages. The campaign would be a win-win as it would encourage new regional Victorians to take jobs in their local communities and businesses to train and unlock opportunities for local young people.

Beyond business, Regional Victoria requires services that match the quality and responsiveness of those provided to communities in metropolitan areas. For example, the availability of early intervention mental health support and acute facilities in regional areas lags behind Melbourne.

Targeted industry investment and procurement levers should also be used to ensure development in our regions. A $2 billion Regional Victoria Manufacturing Strategy and Fund will significantly boost our State’s manufacturing capabilities. This should also require reporting on regional procurement at the State and Local Government levels.
And let’s not forget the economic boost that major events can provide regional areas.

That’s why we are getting behind Victoria’s bid for the 2026 Commonwealth Games because it will help showcase the regions. We’ve proposed a $200 million industry fund to attract new events to Victoria and that includes bringing more sporting and cultural events into regional areas.

There’s never been a better time to support Regional Victoria’s greatest assets - its people and businesses that will play a critical role in ensuring we restore Victoria’s status as an economic powerhouse.