Connecting to Canberra Agendas for local government in Tasmania Rod Brown, APD Consulting - Canberra

Connecting with Canberra LG’s competitive advantage LG’s competitive advantage Federal agendas to connect with Federal agendas to connect with 1 - Regional Infrastructure 1 - Regional Infrastructure 2 - Investment attraction 2 - Investment attraction 3 - Environmental industries 3 - Environmental industries 4 - Alternative energy 4 - Alternative energy 5 - Overseas aid 5 - Overseas aid Techniques for connecting Canberra Techniques for connecting Canberra Conclusions Conclusions

LG’s competitive advantage Downside - no leverage, captive to State, no Constitutional power, 29 councils. Downside - no leverage, captive to State, no Constitutional power, 29 councils. Upside – winds of change, delivery agent for Canberra, some councils of size, ROCs can create critical mass, council staff have real skills & real world experience. Upside – winds of change, delivery agent for Canberra, some councils of size, ROCs can create critical mass, council staff have real skills & real world experience.

Which federal agendas to connect with? National agenda at present = National agenda at present =Defence/securityHealthEducationIRSkills (none of much relevance to LG) But a second bracket has prospects for LG involvement But a second bracket has prospects for LG involvement

1. Regional infrastructure THINK Strategic architecture – hard & soft infrastructure THINK Strategic architecture – hard & soft infrastructure Do a study – Tassie is compact & natural ecosystem Do a study – Tassie is compact & natural ecosystem Then put into Regional Infra Framework – note DOTARS Corridor studies Then put into Regional Infra Framework – note DOTARS Corridor studies Northern Adelaide an ally Northern Adelaide an ally

2. Investment attraction Investment HAPPENS at local level Investment HAPPENS at local level PPPs dubious in Tassie PPPs dubious in Tassie Bundle projects to reach $20m Bundle projects to reach $20m Regional Project Register Regional Project Register Drive in REDI in Tassie Drive in REDI in Tassie Visit Invest Australia Visit Invest Australia Go to IEDC/OECD conference Go to IEDC/OECD conference

3. Environmental industries Regional positioning Regional positioning Mountain Designs (Launceston) Mountain Designs (Launceston) Develop an ‘Adventure Island’ brand based on rugged beauty, roaring forties, mystique – NZ has done exactly this! Develop an ‘Adventure Island’ brand based on rugged beauty, roaring forties, mystique – NZ has done exactly this! LGAT and DED would drive it? LGAT and DED would drive it? Send a message to world Send a message to world

4. Alternative energy 11 years of oil 11 years of oil Alternatives – wind, solar, nuclear, biofuels Alternatives – wind, solar, nuclear, biofuels Think biofuels – grain crops Think biofuels – grain crops Fits your clean green image Fits your clean green image Big agenda – find your way in Big agenda – find your way in

5. Overseas aid Budget of $4 billion and climbing Budget of $4 billion and climbing Emphasis on creating wealth & jobs via community building and infrastructure Emphasis on creating wealth & jobs via community building and infrastructure Twin with a province in PNG, Solomons, Fiji, Kiribati or Indonesia Twin with a province in PNG, Solomons, Fiji, Kiribati or Indonesia Angles – maritime safety, boats, water treatment, tourism? Angles – maritime safety, boats, water treatment, tourism?

10 Techniques for connecting with Canberra 1. Get a feel for apparatus 2. Do not ignore officials 3. Identify the public good 4. Think of 3 categories of grants - small, easy peasy - big, difficult (Water Fund) - NPPs (e.g. Adventure Island)

More techniques 5. Be committed 6. Beware onerous admin/reporting procedures 7. Make your project sound. Then lobbying is easier 8. Think ICONIC 9. Meet on your turf (Red Wine Strategy?) 10. Reality checks – networks - champions

Conclusions You understand things on the ground! You understand things on the ground! Identify federal programs where you can help Identify federal programs where you can help Not a matter of embarrassing the State Government Not a matter of embarrassing the State Government Good citizen gestures get noticed Good citizen gestures get noticed You have skilled staff You have skilled staff Send a best practice signal Send a best practice signal

Rod Brown APD Consulting, Canberra APD Consulting, Canberra LG Focus (Good Oil) LG Focus (Good Oil) Clusters Asia Pacific Clusters Asia Pacific Cockatoo Alliance Cockatoo Alliance –