Recent directions of regional policy in Australia

Abstract

Logan A. (1979) Recent directions of regional policy in Australia, Reg. Studies 13, 153–160. The basic argument of this paper is that the regional initiatives taken by the two national Labor governments in post-war years were unable to overcome the constraints of a federal structure and of a democratic system in which changes of government can occur before regional policies are implemented. With the recent return of the Liberal/Country Party coalition to national government the states have resumed responsibility for regionalism but the current dilemma is that while the states have the constitutional power to effectively implement regional policies they have been concerned largely with land use planning in growing metropolitan regions, whereas changing economic and social conditions underline the need for a broader approach to regional policy involving all three levels of government.