The Lack of Competition in Governance as an Impediment to Regional Development in Australia

Abstract

Regional Australia faces many and diverse challenges and opportunities. Given that onesize-fits-all policy solutions are not appropriate for these diverse conditions, I argue that increasing interjurisdictional competition can foster regional development and resilience. If individuals and businesses are able to ‘vote with their feet’ for the local jurisdictions they prefer, market-like incentives are brought to bear on government. This would limit government power, enable lower-risk policy experimentation, make government more responsive to citizen needs and allow for policy more suited to local circumstances.