This presentation looked at the way that policy intentions in locally led regional development programs can be 'watered down'. Instead of perceiving this as a 'thick' vs 'this' issue, it suggests that the process of delivering on localism is not linear, but more complex (thicker).

1. LOCALLY LED
RESPONSES TO THE
CHALLENGES OF
STRUCTURAL
ADJUSTMENT IN
REGIONAL AREAS:
HOW THICK DOES
POLICY NEED TO BE?
Dr Kylie Bourne, Regional Australia Institute

2. The recent Australian experience of localism in regional development tells
us…
• Localism – especially when it comes to structural adjustment - is thick
and resistant to thin policy responses
• There are tensions and constraints – on policy makers in program design,
in program scope, in regional readiness and capacity
• There is tension between ‘knowing how’ to ‘do’ localism (practice based)
and ’knowing what’ localism is in a policy and academic sense
(declarative)

3. THIS PRESENTATION ESCHEWED
ACADEMIC EXPLANATIONS OF LOCALISM
AND USED STATED POLICY INTENTION AS
A STARTING POINT INSTEAD.

4. Concepts of localism are continually expressed through policy intention, at all
levels of government (and from all sides):
"This Government is committed to regional Australia and this is a $20.3 million investment over
four years in strengthening the RDA network and boosting localism," Simon Crean, 2011. "If
communities are more efficient at the local level, productivity rises at the national level - and
that's good for our regions and good for our nation. I believe this is best achieved by looking at
the bigger picture through the lens of localism.”
“These leaders are the drivers of their community and know their region best,” said Minister
Nash, 2017. “This package will be locally-led through the Local Planning Committee in line with
our vision for the future, and the Committee will nominate the sectors of local industry the
package will invest in.”
Nine new Regional Partnerships have been established by the Victorian Government across the
State to give regional communities greater say about what matters to them and ensure their
voices reach the heart of government.
Be part of the conversation! ‘Victorian State Regional Partnership Communication’ 2017

6. Conceptually, localism is ‘thicker’ than’ local involvement’
Localism involves:
• Growth, livelihoods and sustainability
• Focus on place not sector
• Focus on development, specialisation, adjustment, transition
• Crucially, there are normative aspects and assumptions such as:
o Local people know their needs best
o Regions can and should invest in their own growth
(adapted from Hogan et al, 2014)

7. RAI work on City Deals (Dr Leonie Pearson) developed a BluePrint for
determining a city’s readiness for City Deals
o Economic Engines have to be ready (horsepower, dynamo,
specialisation, workforce engagement)
o Political will and leadership, including making hard decisions
o Structures for implementation
o Capacity to deliver
WHICH MEANS THAT LOCALISM IS THICK IN THE WAY THAT CITY
DEALS ARE THICK
ISSUES OF SCOPE, CONTEXT, CAPACITY, COORDINATION, EXPECTATIONS
have to be on the table and on the agenda but there are real challenges
of including them in program design

8. TENSIONS AND CONSTRAINTS (THE THINNERS)
Practical constraints and tensions
• What if the locals get it wrong?
• Contested political spaces - local voice usually loses, ‘Canberra’ wins
• Money – never enough of it to get it wrong
Knowledge Gaps
• ‘Rumsfeldian paradox’ – We don’t know what we don’t know. What has
worked? What hasn’t? Why are we doing the same thing again?
• Lacking large scale detailed evaluations of what approaches have worked
and ‘how thick’ they need to be to be successful
Questions of Scope and Capacity
• Can locals lead transformational and catalytic change with a plan? What is
beyond their control?
• What factors help to support localism, empower communities, deliver and
sustain transformational change?
• Is it always a good idea?

9. KNOWING THAT AND KNOWING HOW: NOT A CONTINUUM
Concept of
localism
Practice
of
localism
Experience tells us that the ‘thinners’ usually occur in this
space, where program design by ‘bureaucracy’ can be
constrained by other considerations. One place is not like
another, one ‘localism’ initiative may not be like another.

10. ‘Localism’
requires
thickness;
capacity building
and flexible
program delivery
Conceptualisation
Adaptation
Practice
Reflection
KNOWING THAT AND KNOWING HOW: A DIALOGUE

11. Dr Kylie Bourne
www.regionalaustralia.org.au
Kylie.Bourne@regionalaustralia.org.au