Regional Australia in a globalised economy: towards a responsible framework for regional development

This document calls upon the federal government to respond to the new economic context for regional Australia with a responsible framework for regional development, arguing that the forces of economic change, evidenced by persistent and localised disadvantage within many regional communities, necessitate a renewed commitment to regional policy. Issues discussed include: structural economic reform and regional disadvantage; globalisation and regional policy; understanding Australia's regions; economic fundamentals and regional inequality; illusory benefits of structural reform; tariff reform; National Competition Policy; implications for regional policy; towards a new regional policy framework; special role of infrastructure; the decline of service provision and the place of Australia's rural and remote regions; corporate responsibilities; and globalisation, regional development and the common good.