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8 September 2003 Interview
Transcript Lennon: One of the recommendations of the Regional Business Development Analysis is for the Federal Government to provide larger cash incentives than the existing First Home Buyers Grant for people in regional areas. Darren Chester is the Executive Officer for Champions of the Bush and joins me now. So tell me about the RBDA's recommendation to the Government. Chester: The RBDA was about a 12 month process and it came up with a lot of recommendations. One of those recommendations was that we should look at providing extra incentives for regional home buyers by giving an additional grant if you like, on top of the First Home Buyers Grant - specifically for people who are buying in regional areas. It's an idea that Champions of the Bush believes has a great deal of merit. Lennon: We spoke to Dr John Keniry when the plan first came out and there were a number of other macro issues. This one seems to have almost snuk through - we're almost glad you caught hold of it actually. Chester: It's interesting Dave, we had a good read through the report and it's one that was hidden a little bit - I don't think anyone was trying to deliberately hide it by any means - but it was one that probably got lost in some of these broader things about taxation zones and the bonds scheme to encourage infrastructure investment. But we think this is a really practical idea - it's a creative idea that might catch on and we're encouraging the Government to have a good look at it. The report says that it wants more research into it, to make sure it stacks up as a good idea. Champions of the Bush is saying that's a great idea - have a good look at it - and we fully support it. Lennon: How do you support it - if for example in the larger regional centres like say a Sale or a Bendigo or a Mildura - or are we talking about the smaller country towns that are actually having the population sucked from them to the Sales and Bendigos of this world. Chester: It does need to be further studied. I would've thought the towns like Bendigo, Sale and Wodonga would be eligible if we went ahead with something like this. Currently eligible first home buyers can access $7000. At one stage when the GST first came in I think new home buyers could access another $7000 - so a total of $14,000. We're thinking that maybe another $5000 or $10,000 isn't out of the question but by all means, do the extra research and we look forward to the findings from that. Lennon: It was suggested to me that the $7000 grant actually buys you more in regional areas already. So if you like, buying in regional areas you get more bang from your buck with the $7000 so why put it up? Chester: We certainly agree with that point that you do get a lot more for your money in country areas and that's something that we are promoting throughout the community as much as we possibly can to encourage people to move to a country area. Having said that, we're facing a skill shortage in country areas at the moment. Anything we can do to make it more attractive for young professionals to think about moving out to a regional centre - then I think we've got to look at it very, very closely. We're encouraging the Federal Government to have a good look at it because I think it's an idea that's got a lot of merit. Lennon: You talk about young professionals - I was beginning to get the idea that really what regional areas are saying to their young people is OK, we accept we're going to lose them to the city for a while, they are going to go to university or whatever - the''re going to go and see the big wide world. But then they'll come back later perhaps when they want to settle down and have families. Do you think it's still realistic to want to keep people in regional areas and not give them that time away to polish off their education or whatever? Chester: I think there's two lots of people we're talking about. There's some people who want to go away - that want to get the extra education and training. We encourage them to get out there and get that life experience. And then there's other young people that want to stay in their country areas. At the moment I think we're a bit negative about those kids - we're saying that's not really a good option. When really what we should be saying to our young people is you can have a successful career in a country area and demonstrate it by being more positive about their career choices. By all means we're very supportive of young people in whatever career choices they make. But the idea of moving away, getting some experience and then we have an extra attraction to bring them back - it's something we've got to look at. Lennon: You say have a look at it - how long do you reckon before something might happen on the ground. Chester: With Federal Governments and any level of governments I suppose, how long are you prepared to wait? We're just trying to keep the pressure on the Federal Government a little bit. They've got a report - it's a very good report put together by Dr John Keniry and his panel - but at the same time country Australians are a little bit sick of plans and strategy documents. We look forward to the government's full response as soon as possible. We want a commitment to implement some of these recommendations as soon as possible. We're talking a matter of months. We'd love to see them do the research work, come out with a finding and get something like this up and going as soon as possible. Lennon: It's all about pressure? Chester: I think that's what is needed. We've got to be talking to our elected leaders all of the time. Encouraging them to come up with ideas that can help regional Australians. Lennon: Darren, thankyou very much. Darren Chester there, the Executive Officer for Champions of the Bush and an idea for increasing the First Home Buyers Grant for regional areas. And whether that will mean the major regional centres or not, time will tell - watch this space. Media
information: For further comments contact Darren Chester on 0351 55
3719 or 0412 153 719.
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