11 October 2017
Committee Secretariat
Select Committee on Regional Development and Decentralisation
P.O. Box 6021
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600
By email to rdd.reps@aph.gov.au
Dear Select Committee Members,
Regrettably, we only learned of the Hearing conducted in Launceston on 10 October, from the local press report published today.
Accordingly, we wish to make a submission in writing to your Committee, based on concerns about Launceston projects that we referred to in an earlier submission dated August 2017, to the Committee inquiring into the Australian Government's Role in the Development of Cities (see copy of attached submission).
Whilst we appreciate that the Terms of Reference for your Select Committee are different, we never-the-less see some synergy in how officials allegedly representing the best interests of Launceston, have been promoting the Australian Government's support for funding huge capital works projects in this area, without consulting ordinary citizens and gaining their unequivocal support.
The Launceston community has many needs, and the public purse is justifiably limited. We are concerned that funds already agreed by the Australian Government have not been applied to capital works projects that would be of the highest rating and priority able to be given by our ordinary citizens.
Our citizens have simply not been properly consulted, and no argument undoubtedly already put to you by Launceston City Council, Launceston Chamber of Commerce, Tasmanian Property Council, State Government et al, that there has been consultation (unverified, anonymous social media traffic only) can be demonstrated.
We are particularly concerned that the future of the Australian Maritime College at Newnham in Launceston, once an independent and vibrant institution, now absorbed into the ownership of University of Tasmania so as to prop up their University accreditation, is not going to be sustainable and able to expand into the future. Already changes in the funding of the AMC by overseas shipping companies has significantly dropped, and the 'independent' commercial operation of AMC Search has been annihilated.
Unfortunately time and a shortage of resources prevent us from presenting a proper submission to your Select Committee, however we hope that from what we have been able to say, and from what we have already said to the other inquiry, you may be able to glean our sentiments in relation to your Terms of Reference.
Yours faithfully,
Lionel Morrell
President
Tasmanian Ratepayers Association Inc.
NOTE: Ratepayer who wish to receive a ocopy of the submission please indicate so in the comment section below.
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