The Coalition Government’s Plan for Regional Australia will drive increased economic activity, job creation and liveability in towns and cities outside our capitals.

Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce, said a cornerstone of that plan is decentralisation and the relocation of the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) from Canberra to Armidale. 

“This is drawing up to 150 government jobs to Armidale and the regions where they are needed,” Mr Joyce said.

“We want to help make regional communities even better places to live, work and raise a family and our policy of decentralisation is key to that.

“The success of regional Australia underpins our living standards. About 70 per cent of the agricultural product the nation produces is exported and over eight million people live, work and raise a family outside of our capital cities.

“That is why it is critical to strengthen our economy, so we can continue to create more and better paying jobs in the regions; have improved health and education services; tackling environmental issues and upgrading infrastructure.”

A re-elected Liberal and Nationals Government will:

• Boost digital connectivity in regional Australia, including delivering 45 new and upgraded mobile base stations in New England
• Invest $15 million for five more Regional Study Hubs.
• Invest $2 million in the Country Education Partnership's Rural Inspire initiative.
• Invest in the right infrastructure to connect communities, such as 35 new bridges for the New England.
• Provide further funding through programs that are targeted at improving the regions, such as the Building Better Regions Fund, which has committed nearly $4 million for a new Armajun Aboriginal Health centre in Inverell and a new tennis court development at Tamworth. 
• Continue to deliver on our decentralisation agenda, such as the relocation of 150 jobs to the New England at the new home of the APVMA in Armidale.

There are now more than 600 government initiatives focussed on creating jobs and supporting economic growth in Australia’s regions and since 2013, the Liberal and Nationals Government has committed over $33 billion to economic and social infrastructure programs that specifically benefit regional areas.

“We know that Labor don’t get regional Australia because they have no regional Australia policy. Bill Shorten only mentioned the word regional once in his campaign launch speech and did not even mention the agriculture industry at all,” Mr Joyce said.