Regional Investment Framework
The Australian Government's approach to supporting strong & sustainable regions
The Regional Investment Framework is a new approach to how the Australian Government delivers regional investment – valuing local voices and priorities, being informed by and building the evidence, operating with flexibility, integrity and transparency, and coordinating across governments to make investments work better for regions. It provides an integrated and coordinated framework for regional development regardless of a region’s economic circumstances.
Guiding Principles
Realising the Government’s ambition of “no one held back and no one left behind” requires specific regional investment across all portfolios.
Australia’s regions and their economies are diverse, with each having unique strengths, challenges and opportunities.
Delivering on the potential of regional Australia requires building on each region’s unique strengths, including helping regions undergoing significant economic change to transition or adapt to specific structural challenges.
Place-based decision making that draws on the experience of local government alongside regional bodies must guide investment in our regions.
Priority Areas
The Government's investments in regions will have key objectives across all Australian Government portfolios, and include: meeting the needs of, and providing opportunities for, First Nations people; supporting the transformation to a net zero economy and decarbonisation; and, achieving gender equality.
INVESTING IN PEOPLE
Putting people at the forefront of growth, with local voices influencing decision making.
- Listening to local voices and partnering with communities
- Targeted investment in skills, education, training and local leadership capacity
INVESTING IN PLACES
Targeted and place-based investment that enables communities to thrive.
- Supporting the growth of adaptive, accessible, sustainable and liveable regions
- Delivering infrastructure where and when it is needed
INVESTING IN SERVICES
Investment in regional services with a focus on improving quality and accessibility.
- Enhancing connectivity, accessibility and equity of services
- Investment including across communications, health, water, and transport
INVESTING IN INDUSTRIES & LOCAL ECONOMIES
Ensuring regional industries and economies are positioned for sustainable growth.
- Investment to help activate economic and industry growth
- Supporting the conditions needed for industries and economies to diversify and grow