Latest news with #regionaldevelopment
News.com.au
a day ago
- Business
- News.com.au
NSW government to cut 165 roles at only dedicated regional department
The state government has come under fire over plans to slash up to 165 jobs from the only department dedicated to regional NSW. The Department of Primary Industry and Regional Development (DPIRD) is expected to reduce its staff by about 4 per cent. More than 75 per cent of the department's staff live and work outside Sydney, with the headquarters based in Orange in the state's central west. NSW Nationals leader Dugald Saunders described the cuts as 'cruel' and a 'slap in the face to an agency that does immeasurable work' in the community. 'It's no secret Chris Minns and his government has a complete disregard for anyone who lives outside the city,' the opposition spokesman for regional NSW said. 'Some of the teams where these redundancies will come from include agriculture and biosecurity, regional development and delivery in the regional programs.' The Dubbo MP said it was 'concerning' the cuts would also impact the enabling services of the Rural Assistance Authority (RAA). The RAA is the lead agency responsible for providing financial assistance to rural and regional businesses, including after natural disasters. 'We've seen devastating floods on the mid-north coast and drought impacting much of southern NSW,' Mr Saunders said. 'How can the government possibly justify this decision.' In a statement, a DPIRD spokesperson said the changes would 'enable us to work in a sustainable and responsible way, while maintaining service levels'. 'The changes will include a realignment of staff structures in several divisions across the department,' the spokesperson said. 'Some staffing changes are related to temporary roles. 'Other impacts include back office administrative roles and roles where duplication exists.' The spokesperson said all impacted staff would be supported, and ongoing employees would have the opportunity to be redeployed elsewhere in the public service. 'Comprehensive consultation will be undertaken with impacted staff and public sector unions, with feedback incorporated into final plans,' the spokesperson said. 'The number of staff impacted will be determined following the consultation and feedback process. At this stage, no final decisions have been made. 'There will be no changes to Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development office locations.' The number of staff at DPIRD has swelled in recent years by more than 1000 to about 4700 full-time employees by July 2023. Senior executive roles also increased. The cuts come after Transport for NSW secretary Josh Murray announced almost 1000 senior roles would be slashed. The Minns Labor government pledged in the lead-up to the 2023 state election to cut senior executive roles in the public service by 15 per cent. It is understood that both cuts to TfNSW and DPIRD are in pursuit of the state government's target.
ABC News
a day ago
- Business
- ABC News
NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development to cut 165 jobs
The state government has come under fire over its plans to cut 165 jobs from the only department dedicated to regional New South Wales. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) said the proposed changes would result in a 4 per cent reduction of staff. More than 75 per cent of its workforce is based outside of Sydney, with its headquarters in Orange. The department said the majority of the cuts would be made in regional areas. DPIRD secretary Steve Orr said it was a "challenging decision" that was "not taken lightly". Mr Orr said DPIRD, previously Regional NSW, had swelled by 1,000 staff to more than 4,700 full-time equivalent workers under the Coalition government and following the COVID-19 pandemic, floods and bushfire events. "Those [disaster] programs have come to an end but our workforce has remained reasonably high," he said. NSW Nationals leader and shadow agriculture minister Dugald Saunders described the move as "cruel" and "gut-wrenching" for country communities. "It's a double whammy, we lose people with capacity in employment in regional NSW and also the people they're supposed to be helping. "Some of the teams where these redundancies will come from include agriculture and biosecurity, regional development … and enabling services in the Rural Assistance Authority (RAA) which is concerning." He said the move was in direct contradiction of the DPIRD's aim of growing the primary industries sector and helping with economic development in the regions, by supporting the agriculture, forestry, fishing and mining industries. In a February budget estimates hearing, NSW Agriculture Minister Moriarty foreshadowed the need to reduce staff numbers due to budget challenges. The move was expected to save the department approximately $22 million and improve its fiscal sustainability. Mr Orr said the job cuts were set to affect roles that were made permanent despite only having temporary funding, back office administrative roles and duplicate management positions across several divisions. "We've reduced our temporary workforce, our casual workforce. The challenge has very much been on our permanent workforce," he said. He said the proposed job cuts would impact a small number of roles within the Rural Assistance Authority (RAA), which administers financial assistance to rural businesses and people during times of hardship, such as flood and drought. He said there was no plan to reduce any RAA roles in grant administration. Changes to Local Land Services and Fisheries and Forestry have been ruled out. "In terms of the direct services and front-line services which the department offers, there won't be impact on those particular services," Mr Orr said. The number of senior executive roles has already been reduced by 15 per cent over the past two years, which rose by more than 50 to 192 between 2019-2023. Mr Orr said it was only a proposal at this stage and that no final decisions have been made. The DPIRD will undertake consultation over the next fortnight with impacted staff and public sector unions. The total number of staff that will be affected is to be determined afterwards. DPIRD said in a statement that affected staff would be offered redeployment opportunities within the state's public service. The ABC has contacted NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty for comment.
Forbes
6 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Why All Eyes Should Be On Manchester When It Comes To Regional Innovation
The UK's innovation and industrial agendas have historically been shaped by successive Westminster Governments, often leaving the insight and contribution of some of the UK's regional powerhouses behind. The recent announcement that the Industrial Strategy Council will be headquartered in Manchester, however, signals a much-needed shift away from centralised control, to one that recognises the incredible industrial heritage of the regions and the innovation being driven across the UK today. Manchester has created the blueprint for regional innovation, one grounded in long-term collaboration. It's a model that other areas across the UK would do well to study and adopt. This approach has not only elevated Manchester's profile but also attracted significant national and international attention and investment. Crucially, the city isn't standing still. The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) recently announced The Greater Manchester Strategy, a ten-year vision underpinned by seven delivery workstreams that will cement Greater Manchester as 'a thriving city region where everyone can live a good life'. This new plan builds on Manchester's proven formula and introduces seven delivery workstreams designed to strengthen integration of public, private and academic sector ecosystems, and investment in growth areas and R&D. On the topic of which, recently we've seen a rapid growth in AI with Manchester and Salford ranked top for AI-readiness outside of London. The city is also leading the charge in digital health, data infrastructure, cybersecurity and FinTech businesses – all of which also align with the new Industrial Strategy's pillars – and it's becoming common knowledge that Manchester has earned a reputation as a world-class hub for life sciences in recent years. Indeed, Manchester's Inward Investment Agency, MIDAS, recently launched a new life sciences prospectus showcasing the city region's position as one of the UK's most dynamic health innovation ecosystems. Produced by MIDAS and the Oxford Road Corridor – Manchester's knowledge quarter – with contributions from a collection of key regional stakeholders including Bruntwood SciTech - the prospectus highlights the city's position within the UK's £120bn growing life sciences market and showcases its regional strengths in data, genomics, oncology and real-world evidence clinical trials. Rather than a city playing catch up, Manchester is a city setting the pace. But what truly sets it apart isn't just the funding it's received or the institutions it hosts, it's that the city has never waited for permission. Build first, attract later Manchester's progress and success has been the result of decades-long collaboration and a united long-term vision between civic leaders, universities, property developers and industry, forming an innovation ecosystem that existed well before national attention followed. Take Manchester Science Park with our new Greenheys development at its heart. The site is set to become home to UK Biobank, the world's most significant source of data and biological samples for health research. UK Biobank being a part of Manchester's already thriving ecosystem has been instrumental in securing the £20 million being awarded through the Industrial Strategy, supporting its delivery of the world's most significant protein study. With the data made accessible to approved researchers worldwide, the project exemplifies how locally driven success stories can attract major government backing and deliver global scientific value. The timing is also significant. The NHS's new 10-year plan announced at the beginning of July places renewed emphasis on data-driven innovation, early diagnostics and partnership with industry. In Manchester, we're already seeing how strong relationships between Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, the Oxford Road Corridor and joint ventures like Bruntwood SciTech can deliver on this vision. The co-location of life science businesses alongside NHS clinicians and researchers offers a powerful draw for tech, innovation and science businesses looking to scale in a real-world healthcare setting. By demonstrating ambition, clarity and joined up thinking locally, Manchester has built something that national government is now backing. Local leadership, national returns Manchester may be the blueprint, but cities like Liverpool, Leeds, Birmingham and Glasgow are also carving distinct innovation paths that deserve greater attention and resourcing. Liverpool is expanding its Knowledge Quarter with a growing focus on infection research and digital health, powered by strong university partnerships and the proactive work of local leaders to create a globally recognised health and life sciences cluster. Meanwhile, Leeds has become a centre of excellence in med tech, Glasgow is establishing itself as a leader in quantum and photonics, and Birmingham is capitalising on its strengths in clean tech and advanced manufacturing, with innovation campuses like Tyseley Energy Park and Birmingham Health Innovation Campus. In each case, we see the same pattern: regional stakeholders identifying their unique assets, building coalitions across academia, industry and public services, and developing the spaces, strategies and talent pipelines to match. This groundwork doesn't wait for central government support, it earns it. If the UK wants to truly unlock the power of regional innovation, it must move beyond one-off funding packages and lean into long-term partnerships with local authorities, councils, metro mayors and institutions that have proven they can deliver. The takeaway then isn't that Manchester is better – it's that it was prepared. The city offers a case study in how others can align infrastructure, leadership and industry to create self-sustaining innovation economies. And when this is done well, it doesn't just lead to local success, it attracts national investment.
RNZ News
14-07-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
Guam governor drums up regional support for US$1b hospital project
By Ron Rocky Coloma , Pacific Island Times Guam Governor Lou Leon Guerrero with Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine. Photo: Office of the Governor of Guam The 27th Micronesian Islands Forum (MIF) has adopted a resolution supporting the development of a regional medical complex on Guam. "For years, patients from across Micronesia have come to Guam to access healthcare services, so we already have a clear picture of where the needs are and what services people are seeking when they arrive," Guam's Governor Lou Leon Guerrero, who introduced the resolution during the Forum's meeting in Majuro this month, said. The governor is proposing to build a US$1 billion hospital in Mangilao. The goal is to scale care and keep patients closer to home. The governor also noted the economic and staffing opportunities that could follow. "With the strong ties we share among our island communities, the other MIF leaders agreed that making Guam a medical hub would help improve the quality of care available to their citizens, while keeping them closer to home," she said. "I also believe that by creating a regional healthcare system, we can more easily attract specialists to Guam. When we combine the patient populations of our region, we create the demand needed to support more advanced and specialized services-something that benefits all of us in the Pacific," she added. When island leaders gathered in Majuro for the Forum meeting, Guam showed up with urgency. Climate change topped the agenda, but the meeting also laid groundwork for regional healthcare, connectivity and gender equity. According to the governor, leaders pointed to gaps in healthcare, workforce development and resilience planning. Guam's experience navigating these same pressures helped shape the forum's priorities. "The experiences of our Pacific neighbors mirror many of our own, and several of our administration's key initiatives, such as the establishment of a new public hospital, workforce development programs and expanded air transportation, hold promise not only for Guam but for the broader Micronesian region," she said. The forum also reached consensus on another priority: equity. Leaders unanimously endorsed the Micronesian Gender Equality Framework, a regional commitment that brought together state actors and traditional leadership. "MIF leaders unanimously endorsed the Micronesian Gender Equality Framework, a landmark commitment that brought together governments, development partners and traditional leaders to establish a culturally grounded, inclusive and actionable path toward gender equality across the region," Leon Guerrero said. She sees the endorsement not only as a moral imperative, but a development strategy. "This endorsement marks a significant step forward," she said. "As leaders of smaller island jurisdictions commit to advancing gender equity, they are also opening doors to economic growth by empowering more women to enter the workforce, pursue higher education and take on leadership roles. Women's participation is crucial to shaping effective responses to the region's most pressing challenges, including climate change, transportation and community resilience." Still, some issues proved sensitive. Deep-sea mining, currently permitted in Nauru, raised concern among some participants. The governor said leaders addressed it with caution and a call for more research. "On more sensitive issues, MIF leaders exercised thoughtful diplomacy," she said. "For instance, concerns over the unknown effects of deep-sea mining-currently permitted by the Republic of Nauru-were met with a collective call for further research and ongoing dialogue. The 27th MIF Communiqué reflects this consensus, affirming the need for continued information sharing and regional cooperation on the matter." Leon Guerrero also emphasised Guam's potential role in solving a core challenge across the Pacific: funding. Even when money is available, many island governments struggle to access it. "I recently had the opportunity to speak at the Global Islands Summit, and I'm honored that a portion of my remarks was also shared at the United Nations Ocean Conference 3, or UNOC3," she said. "In both forums, I spoke about Guam's unique position as a financial hub in the region-and how we can use that strength to help shape financing guidelines that are appropriately scaled for small island communities facing the impacts of climate change." She believes the Pacific Islands Development Bank, headquartered on Guam, could help bridge that gap. "The leaders of Micronesia serve as its board of directors, and I believe that growing the bank's capacity could be a true game changer for our region," the governor said. But even that requires systemic change. "Right now, the biggest bottleneck to accessing hundreds of millions in climate financing is not the lack of available funds. It's the inability of our island governments to meet the complex requirements of the application process," she said. "These guidelines are designed for countries with populations in the millions. For many of us in the Pacific, with populations under 20,000, those requirements are simply too burdensome. Guam can lead the way in advocating for financing systems that work for communities like ours," she added. -This article was first published by Pacific Island Times .
Irish Times
08-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Is this Government serious about climate action? We'll soon know
Later this month the Government will publish its review of the National Development Plan, setting out how much capital funding will be spent over the next 10 years. It is the area of spending we have to prioritise. If we don't ramp up investment in housing, transport, energy and water services, then our country will grind to a halt. To make it work, we also need to keep current spending under control. That combination can stop our economy from overheating and ensure we can continue to build, even if there is a sudden drop in corporate tax revenues. A key question will be where such capital funding is directed and not just what the overall amount is. For example, will new spending on housing continue to support the National Planning Framework goals for compact, low-carbon and better-balanced regional development, or will we instead revert to low-density sprawl? The latter option will cost us all a lot more in the end, as we pay for new supporting infrastructure, at the same time that our city and town centres fall into dereliction and decay. The last government had agreed that €3.15bn from the fund would be spent over the next five years It will be especially interesting to see the Government's plans for the new Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund within this review. The last government had agreed that €3.15 billion from the fund would be spent over the next five years. That total was specific because we knew exactly where the funding shortfalls were in the delivery of our national climate action plan. READ MORE The analysis supporting that figure was done in taskforces involving all relevant government departments and it was clearly understood that the resulting investments had to improve the competitiveness and security of our country, as well as reduce our emissions. As a result of this process, 40 per cent of the fund was earmarked for energy efficiency improvements to our public building stock. It is something we are compelled to do under European law but which no department wants to prioritise in advance of other spending commitments. A second priority was using 25 per cent of the allocation for investment in district heating, anaerobic digestion, clean industrial heating and modern methods of construction. This would address the areas where we are furthest from meeting our climate targets and would bring in significant matching private finance to help deliver what we want. Last but not least, €480m or 15% of the fund was to be spent on supporting innovation in new technologies such as long-term battery storage The third target was to provide 20 per cent of the funding to the farming and conservation sectors, so they can deliver the Nature Restoration Plan, which is already committed to under European law. Last but not least, €480 million or 15 per cent of the fund was to be spent on supporting innovation in new technologies such as long-term battery storage, offshore energy and low-carbon data centres. It would bring down prices for people and allow us to continue to attract more foreign direct investment, which is the source of this funding in the first place. If the review fails to commit to these sorts of investment priorities, then we will know the Government is not intent on delivering the climate action plan. The consequences for our economy as well as our environment would be immense. We are never going to be competitive burning other people's fossil fuels and we will never be able to trade under a green brand if we are not willing to clean up our act here at home. Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers has said the Republic's infrastructure delivery is in a 'state of paralysis' and the State system is too 'risk-averse'. It is true we have to do everything faster, but that need for speed should not mean we abandon strategic thinking when it comes to deciding what we build next. Delay is going to cost us more, not just because of potential fines, but because it makes more sense to move now to the fast-evolving and cleaner new industrial model It would be a mistake to give up on the climate commitments we have already made, just days after the European Commission proposed a higher target of a 90 per cent cut in emissions by 2040. Delay is going to cost us more, not just because of potential fines, but because it makes more sense to move now to the fast-evolving and cleaner new industrial model. It will give us greater economic security in a world of volatile fossil fuel price shocks. Are we just going to say to our European Union colleagues, 'sorry, but there is just not sufficient political will for us to make the change?' We cannot use the excuse that we don't have the money, because our tax revenues are the envy of every other country. We cannot fudge things by saying we need more time, because these proposals have been worked on by teams of civil servants for years. If the revised National Development Plan and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund do not match our climate ambitions, then I can see a future court asking a simple question. They will wonder why, when we knew what had to be done, and when we had the finances and the backup analysis in place, we still decided to shirk our responsibility. In such circumstances, I don't believe we would have a credible defence.
