House Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport - Launceston, TAS (part 1 of 2) — hearing of 24 August 2026: transcript & video · Polyfact

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House Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport - Launceston, TAS (part 1 of 2)

23 August 2026

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Contents updated on 24 Aug 2026

The committee opens the Launceston hearing, sets out procedural and broadcasting arrangements, then hears from RDA Tasmania on systemic regional challenges and a proposed Regional Hubs Investment Framework, followed by City of Launceston evidence on the erosion of Financial Assistance Grants, cost‑shifting, sustainability risks, and the constraints of an outdated property‑rates tax base.

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Hearing opening, regional context and Launceston funding pressures

15:11

Hearing opening and introductions

15:11

RDA Tasmania — regional challenges and hubs proposal

18:03

City of Launceston — funding, FAGs and cost‑shifting

21:34

Launceston — sustainability, outdated rating system and grant risks

27:01

Collaborative regional infrastructure, equalisation anomalies and structural reform

32:38

RDA Tasmania — collaborative infrastructure and SERDA example

32:38

Structural reform, amalgamation, Productivity Commission and grants design

40:11

Cradle Coast and Central Coast — asset sustainability, resilience and grant access

01:05:45

Cradle Coast & Central Coast — asset burden, cost‑shifting and resilience

01:05:45

Regional planning, collaborative grants and simplifying competitive programs

01:26:56

Northern Midlands and Central Highlands — roads, freight, renewables and missing state support

01:48:07

Northern Midlands & Central Highlands — roads, freight and renewables impacts

01:48:07

Royalties, PILOT, state funding gaps and expanding social roles

01:59:38

Tasman and King Island — structural capacity, tourism load and workforce limits

02:32:38

Tasman & King Island — structural capacity, airports and strategic communities

02:32:38

Tourism pressures, state–local responsibility gaps and workforce issues

02:48:38

Statewide LGAT funding position and diverse council capacity and role issues

04:01:43

LGAT — statewide funding positions, equalisation and resilience

04:01:43

Flinders & West Tamar — remote service obligations and growth infrastructure

04:37:17

Grant co‑contributions, cost‑shifting and unclear intergovernmental roles

04:50:43

Greater Hobart & City of Hobart — capital city funding, functional population and shared planning

05:30:12

House Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport - Launceston, TAS (part 1 of 2)

23 August 2026

House Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport Mon, 24 Aug 2026 Australian Parliament

15:10 - 16:26

Speaker 1

I now declare open this public hearing of the Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport's inquiry into local government funding and fiscal sustainability.

I'd like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands on which we meet today, and I pay my respects to their ancestors and their elders past, present, and future. I extend this respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in their cultural and spiritual connection to Australia's lands and waters. In accordance with the committee's resolution of 28 August 2025, this hearing will be broadcast on the Parliament's website, and the proof and official transcripts of proceedings will be published on the inquiry website. I remind members of the media who may be present or listening on the web of the need to fairly and accurately report the proceedings of the committee. I now call on representatives from Regional Development Australia Tasmania and the City of Launceston to give evidence.

For the Hansard record, would you please state your full name and the capacity in which you appear before the committee.

16:26 - 16:31

Speaker 5

Excellent. Um, so James McKee, CEO Regional Development Australia Tasmania.

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