Regional development

However, skills development and labour shortages are putting pressure on regional businesses and limiting the ability for our regions to grow and prosper. Further, economic and employment growth differs widely between geographic locations. Population growth is putting pressure on infrastructure, public transport, and housing. We need immediate investment to empower our regions to achieve continued growth and innovation.

Our focus

Unlock the competitive advantage of our regions by: 

• Creating a housing development scheme to expand housing supply and planning in Regional Victoria, that is supported by comprehensive Place Planning in regional and rural towns. 
• Funding a targeted, industry led ‘Work in the Regions’ initiative to encourage new regional Victorians and young people to work in shortage industries.
• Creating an Agriculture Passport to allow seasonal employees to work across growers and farms.
• Creating a Regional Victorian Manufacturing Strategy to fund and boost Victoria’s local manufacturing industry and capabilities. 
• Commissioning a state-wide review of local content procurement processes in collaboration with State Government and at least six regional councils to drive regional business growth.
• Investing in regional infrastructure (including digital) and essential services to accommodate the recent population growth into the regions and allow for continual housing developments.
• Strengthening visitor demand through the creation of a Destination Marketing Campaign to encourage visitation to our regions and showcase the unique landscape of Regional Victoria.
• Funding a targeted settlement strategy to ensure skilled migrants settle in Regional Victoria.
• Streamlining support for regional Victorian businesses to be able to win and access procurement opportunities – coordinated through one central body such as the Industry Capability Network (ICN).
• Releasing an investment plan that outlines a shared vision for a national freight system, which must include industry and should incorporate rail freight connectivity to intermodals or ports and good-quality road networks that can support industrial growth. Safeguarding this competitive advantage must be the cornerstone of the updated Freight Plan.