The lives of thousands of South Australians living and working in border communities will get a whole lot easier with the appointment of a Cross-Border Commissioner.
Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Clare Scriven has introduced the Cross-Border Commissioner Bill, meeting one of the Government’s key election commitments to provide more support for South Australia’s regions; to grow communities, making them more vibrant places to live, work and visit.
South Australia shares borders with every mainland state and territory, making it critical that those living and working in these communities have someone with the power to negotiate on their behalf, finding practical ways to improve economic and wellbeing outcomes.
Many residents and businesses in regional South Australia travel across our borders, sometimes on a daily basis for work, business, education and medical needs.
With the largest populations on the borders between SA, Victoria and NSW, the Commissioner will be based in Mount Gambier. The Commissioner will work to identify issues, broker solutions and provide advice on matters impacting border communities, making it easier to do business across our borders, while addressing barriers to education, health and other services.
The Commissioner will also work with in other jurisdictions, in particular Victoria and New South Wales, which both have Cross Border Commissioners. The Bill requires the new appointment to be someone with detailed understanding of the issues affecting border communities and experience living within a border region.