Its a great idea to focus more development on regional centres. But as a new Canberran, I'm not sure Canberra, our nation's capital, should be considered 'a regional city', even if it does have a small population!

Given that to even halt an increase in greenhouse gas emissions we have to reduce our per capita emissions and consumption by 60% these visions of perpetual growth and increasing production and productivity are actually dangerous delusions.

Great article, Craig.
Perhaps as a follow on from your proposals, there should be very vigous debate on the viability of State Governments in the future, and in their stead the formation of regional goverments with constitutions approved by a federal government, as in the Swiss model. This would, I'm sure, add to the drive for regional infrastructure development. The best of the staff from each state could do the management of the regions. In other word, take the decision making closer to the parish pump, with guidance, not service delivery from Canberra.
Bob Downey

Good points. I hope many read the article & think.
Decentralisation of Australia’s population has been on the political agenda one way or another since federation. A major attempt in NSW during the late ‘60s into the ‘70s saw the industrial development of Albury/Wodonga & Bathurst/Orange & these developments still exist but have been allowed to decline through the ‘90s due to the lack of support you indicate. The general decline in manufacturing is also to blame & this is an essential point.
Manufacturers are the largest employers on a “head per company” basis & so their presence is primary in any decentralisation scheme. Infrastructure, Services & Retail do follow this financial population to the larger extent. We need a healthy manufacturing sector to introduce new factories to remote areas.
At the present time, the decentralisation issue is almost subservient to the major problems we face through international competition against our manufacturers. The lack of forethought and planning at government level on this matter is almost criminal.

One often hears the call to abolish states and replace them with regional government but what is the difference between a new smaller state and an enlarged regional government? Shouldn't we just change our perception of what a state can be and produce a few more of them?

All decentralisation policies in the past have failed because they have attempted to create self perpetuating economic growth without the critical contribution of the industry of governance itself. Nothing attracts investment like decision makers. And if the decision makers remain in the metropolis' then that is where the investment will concentrate.

The real irony in all this is that the major cities know full well that the pace of development in their own city is far beyond a sustainable or even manageable level. They wring their hands at the way urban problems now increase in difficulty by multiplication rather than simple addition but steadfastly refuse to consider any solution that does not involve their own political primacy.

If you really want to disperse the impacts of growth then the political decisionmaking process must be dispersed. Put a new state capital in Sale, Sheparton, Ararat, Grafton, Tamworth, Wagga Wagga, Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton and Toowoomba and you will create the critical head office jobs that drive investment decisions. And the investment, jobs and population will follow. Anything less is window dressing.

>> If you really want to disperse the impacts of growth then the political decisionmaking process must be dispersed. Put a new state capital in Sale, Sheparton, Ararat, Grafton, Tamworth, Wagga Wagga, Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton and Toowoomba and you will create the critical head office jobs that drive investment decisions. And the investment, jobs and population will follow. Anything less is window dressing.<<

Interesting idea, Perseus, but somewhat cost inefficient. Consider the impact on the donor cities. Decentralisation should be accommodated primarily through growth & if we have a healthy economy, growth is what we have.
We need incentives such as tax breaks for appropriate core industries in regional areas. Regional education should be closely monitored & bolstered if necessary. Family & social services should immediately have their funding doubled, not only in regional areas. Government needs to provide the initial infrastructure to support the population increases. People will come if they can live an urban existence without any negatives.
The establishment of Science & technology parks situated in ‘special economic zones’ that incorporate financial incentives is one proven method of decentralisation. We have plenty of historical data, Australian & international, to draw plans from. This is not a new problem, just increasingly relevant.
We also need a government with the necessary forethought