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PRIME MINISTER
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SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON P J KEATING MP
OPENING OF THE HUNTER ADVANTAGE EXHIBITION
PARLIAMENT HOUSE CANBERRA
7 NOVEMBER 1994
Well, let me say what a real pleasure it is to open the Hunter Advantage Exhibition.
And the timing couldn't be better.
Only this morning I was speaking to the National General Assembly of Local
Governments about the enormous wealth of talent that exists in regional Australia.
And now we have it on full display here with the Hunter region a region I might add
that is one of great beauty and character.
The Hunter is a very old region, one of our oldest, but one which has certainly
rejuvenated itself and now looks to the fu~ ture with great confidence.
I think it's also worth making the point that in the great countries of the world, it's the
regions that define them.
It's the regions, rather than the political boundaries of their states, which give countries
their character.
It's certainly the case for France, Germany and Italy.
In Australia, this is also true, though it's not so well recognised.
But not only does the Hunter give this country character, it is also a region with a
strong export profile, a region that knows what it means to Lead Local and Compete
Global. In fact, the picture of the Hunter today is very impressive indeed.
And it bears a little looking at.
Some of it, of course, is very familiar.
Most Australians will know about the Hunter's coal mines and coal export port one
the locals claim is the largest in the world but one that is certainly the largest in the
southern hemisphere.
Most Australians will be familiar with the Hunter's enormous variety of agriculture.
Most, I imagine, will have quaffed the odd glass of world famous Hunter wine.
And not a few Australians will have caught waves on Newcastle's great surf beaches.
But I suspect far less Australians know about some of the other aspects of the Hunter,
that it has in fact an increasingly diverse industrial profile with significant growth in it's
high value added goods and services.
That's something borne out by this exhibition which includes some of Australia's best
companies. In fact, last Thursday I presented Hunter Valley Rewinds with one of only 12
Australian Quality Awards to be given this year.
The Hunter is also a region with a fine University which is playing its part in the export
drive. It has developed a water purification system, the TUNRA Jetfiote, which is destined
for export markets.
And its Centre for Industrial Control Science has developed a special computer
controller for use in the mining, chemical, engineering and car industries.
This controller which has already generated considerable interest from many
international firms will be chasing a share of what is potentially a multi-billion dollar
export market.
But innovative products are by no means the preserve of the university sector and I
couldn't but help noticing the Medicab, the automotive stretcher, that forms part of this
exhibition. I understand that the Joint House Department has already expressed interest in
purchasing one for use here in the Parliament.
But if the developers want to double their sales here at Parliament House, they midght
do well to give the Leader of the Opposition a call.
Although the way things are going at the moment, I'm not sure whether he should
station it near the House of Reps or the Senate.
I think it's also worth making the point that one of the reasons for the Hunter's success
is that it has a very healthy industrial relations profile that may have something to do
with the fact that the Australian Centre for Best Practice has its head office in
Newcastle.
But I suspect it's got more to do with the fact that the Hunter has developed a detailed
enterprise agreement, one developed between the region's councils and unions, and one
which McKinsey in their regional development study cited as an example of a
sophisticated performance measurement driving changes in behaviour.
Over the years, the Government has sought to tap into the enormous assets of the
Hunter and when necessary to give the region a hand up.
Through the Better Cities Program, we are providing $ 70 million over a four year
period to the Honeysuckle redevelopment, which has already begun to revitalise
Newcastle, providing jobs and attracting private sector investment.
For my part, I should confess some involvement in the decision to set up a tax office in
Newcastle, although I hear a few of the local business people will never forgive me for
that. But whatever assistance might have flowed to the Hunter from the Commonwealth and
State Government over the years, this is little compared to that which has come from
the leadership exercised by those people living and working within the Hunter itself
This theme of leadership is one that I addressed in some detail this morning when I
pointed out that, faced with the choice between $ 2 million and 20 local leaders and
million and no local leaders, regional leaders would opt for the former because local
leadership is something that can't be bought.
In fact, the Hunter has a fine tradition of leadership and one which has been
particularly strong in recent times.
It's leadership that came to the fore in the aftermath of the Newcastle earthquake.
It's leadership that continues today.
And it finds its expression in the many companies that are on display here.
Let me congratulate those who had the initiative to stage this exhibition, particularly
Mrs Jill Wyborn from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Of course, this exhibition complements the other great work that is being done by
many people and organisations right around the Hunter.
I'm thinking here of the contribution of the likes of Dr Margaret Bowman, the former
Chairman of the Hunter Institute of Higher Education who participated in the Regional
Development Taskforce chaired by Bill Kelty.
I'm also thinking of the work done by Rotary as part of the Employ Australia initiative
which has seen more than 2500 vacancies notified to the CES over the past 3 weeks.
With leadership like this, it's difficult not to feel optimistic about the Hunter's future.
And it's something that will be given a huge boost when a Regional Development
Organisation is shortly established in the Hunter.
This Regional Development Organisation will have a major role in harnessing the
enormous leadership reserves in the Hunter and putting into place a strategy for the
region. It is, as you know, one of the major Working Nation initiatives designed to ensure that
regional Australia also participates in the strong economic growth now underway.
I suspect this commercial may have run a little longer than it should have but then there
are so many good things to say about the Hunter.
Perhaps I might leave any further comments to others here.
So let me finish up with my own vote of confidence in the Hunter and my
congratulations to all those associated with the putting together of this fine exhibition.
Thank you.