State regional development portfolio

Strong regions, strong communities, strong Victoria. Supporting regional communities, strengthening local economies, improving essential infrastructure, and ensuring every regional Victorian has access to sustainable opportunities to thrive.

Broadacre farming and food security

Agriculture forms the backbone of Victoria's regional communities, powering critical employment, food production, and sovereign exports. Our commitment centers on strengthening broadacre grain farming, modernising infrastructure, and preserving long-term community sustainability across our fertile regions.

Livestock production and regional enterprise

From world-class dairy to beef and lamb production, Victoria's regional livestock industries feed the nation. We prioritise local supply chains, biosecurity standards, and economic support structures that empower farming families and drive prosperity throughout rural townships.

Connected regional infrastructure and services

Regional Victoria thrives when transport, energy, and digital networks work together. We advocate for targeted regional development that keeps essential healthcare, education, and economic investment embedded within local communities, building enduring resilience for generations to come.

Key reform pillars for regional development

Supporting local economies, essential infrastructure, regional industry, and liveable communities so regional Victorians have the services and opportunities they need to thrive.

Regional industry and advanced manufacturing

Strengthening regional production, agricultural processing, and local trade capability across hubs like Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, and Latrobe Valley. We support enterprise growth, strategic investment attraction, and resilient local supply chains to secure jobs outside Melbourne.

Foundational transport and water infrastructure

Accelerating long-term planning for regional rail lines, highway upgrades, and digital connectivity. We prioritize essential water security planning, storage infrastructure, and energy grids to ensure rural towns and broadacre producers can expand sustainably.

Workforce participation and trade pathways

Addressing critical labour shortages by funding regional TAFE networks, structured apprenticeships, and industry partnerships. Retaining youth and building local technical capacity ensures vital community trades, businesses, and essential services remain staffed.

Liveable communities and housing availability

Overcoming regional housing bottlenecks, improving local healthcare access, and expanding community infrastructure. Strong, thriving regional towns rely on quality education, dependable services, and empowered local governance for lasting family wellbeing.

Reform strategies, challenges, and opportunities

Regional Victoria continues to face acute challenges including severe workforce shortages, housing availability constraints, mounting infrastructure backlogs, and critical water security pressures. In regions from the Goulburn Valley and Wimmera Mallee to Gippsland and the Western District, escalating operating costs and transport bottlenecks create sustained pressure on family farms, manufacturing plants, and essential municipal service delivery.

Reliable digital connectivity is also an increasingly urgent priority. Patchy mobile coverage and limited high-speed broadband restrict access to telehealth, online education, remote work, and modern agricultural technologies, leaving many communities at a disadvantage. Targeted investment in resilient telecommunications infrastructure would help regional businesses innovate, improve emergency communications, and ensure residents can participate fully in Victoria’s growing digital economy.

Australians Unified outlines strategic reform opportunities designed to strengthen regional resilience. Our focus prioritises targeted water infrastructure and digital connectivity, accelerated regional housing supply, dynamic industry diversification, and dedicated apprenticeship networks. By coordinating long-term planning and capital investment across regional cities and rural shires, we can empower communities and safeguard Victoria's economic future.

Accessible Regional Healthcare is also essential to thriving communities. We support investment in local hospitals, telehealth services, mental health care and incentives that help attract and retain doctors, nurses and allied health professionals in regional areas. Better access to timely, quality care means families can remain close to home, older Australians can age with dignity, and regional communities can grow with confidence.

Frequently asked questions about Victorian regional development

Explore how the Victorian Regional Development Portfolio delivers strategic policy, vital infrastructure, agricultural support, and economic growth across our regional communities.

What is the primary focus of Victoria's Regional Development Portfolio?

Victoria's Regional Development Portfolio focuses on supporting regional communities, strengthening local economies, improving essential infrastructure, expanding employment opportunities, and ensuring regional Victorians have access to the services, investment, and opportunities needed to thrive.

How does the portfolio support agriculture and Victoria's food bowl?

Agriculture is central to Victoria's export power and food security. The portfolio targets four key areas: broadacre farming (grains and large-scale cropping), livestock production (dairy, beef, lamb, and poultry), horticulture (fruits, vegetables, and specialty crops), and agricultural innovation (ag-tech, productivity tools, and sustainable farming methods). In key regions like the Goulburn Valley, Wimmera Mallee, Gippsland, and the Western District, Australians Unified champions water security planning, farm succession planning, and dedicated skills development.

What initiatives are in place to bolster regional manufacturing and industry?

Regional industry drives economic diversification beyond Melbourne. The portfolio supports advanced manufacturing, agricultural value-adding, local trades, and business investment in key hubs such as Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, and the Latrobe Valley. Reform initiatives address supply chain pressures, transport costs, and skilled workforce shortages by promoting local industry capability and targeted regional business attraction programs.

What are the priority investments for regional infrastructure?

Critical infrastructure underpins sustainable population and economic growth. Priority areas include transport networks (freight routes, Western Highway upgrades, and regional passenger rail), resilient energy grids, expanded water storage and distribution systems, and upgraded digital connectivity (high-speed broadband and mobile blackspot solutions) to guarantee regional Victorians have equitable access to markets, telehealth, and remote education.

How are regional workforce shortages and youth retention being addressed?

Strong regional economies require accessible employment pathways. Australians Unified advocates for expanded regional TAFE programs, dedicated apprenticeship networks, industry training partnerships, and skilled trade attraction initiatives to reverse youth migration to metropolitan centres and resolve pressing skills gaps across rural Victoria.

What measures are planned to resolve regional housing shortages and community service gaps?

Liveable regional communities depend on adequate housing, high-quality healthcare, and dependable community services. The portfolio champions strategic land release and regional housing supply incentives, upgraded community and recreation facilities, and measures to attract and retain doctors, nurses, and educators across regional cities, growth corridors, and rural townships.

What are Victoria's formal state responsibilities for regional development?

Victoria coordinates regional development through long-term infrastructure planning, agriculture and industry assistance, workforce and skills programs, regional investment attraction, community infrastructure funding, and statewide transport coordination to guarantee lasting economic prosperity.