South Australia’s first Cross Border Commissioner Liz McKinnon has commenced in her role to enhance regional and economic development for communities straddling border regions of the state.
Today the State Government outlined its key priorities for border communities, which include access to training and education, sharing responsibilities to maximise resources across borders, and co-ordinating regulations and procedures across states wherever possible.
The Commissioner is based in Mount Gambier and has been travelling to various border communities to identify opportunities and facilitate collaboration with other jurisdictions.
To date, the Commissioner has undertaken more than 70 meetings, engaging with key leaders across the Green Triangle in addition to the Riverland, Ceduna, Frances, Bordertown, Eucla on the WA/SA border and outback leaders.
The Commissioner has interacted with civic leaders, councils, and industry to introduce the role of the Cross Border Commissioner and to understand key current issues, particularly those that are specific to cross border communities.
Liz McKinnon’s role includes providing advice to Government as well as brokering solutions between other parties, where appropriate. The outcomes will include making it easier to do business across our borders, and addressing liveability issues related to cross-border challenges.
The Commissioner has been working with other jurisdictions, particularly Victoria and New South Wales, which both have Cross Border Commissioners, to consider the administrative systems they have in use and enhance the relationships between the states.
The Commissioner can be contacted at sacbc.administration@sa.gov.au or via phone 0400 049 126.
For more information, see Cross Border Commissioner.