“Victoria’s Future State” Discussion Paper

In our inaugural discussion paper, former Premier The Hon Steve Bracks AC and former Deputy Premier The Hon Patrick McNamara discuss the four policy pillars of a future population decentralisation agenda for Victoria.

The four pillars discussed are:

1. A decentralisation program must set clear targets

2. Areas across the entire state, not just the large regional centres must be included

3. Transport and land use planning must be better integrated across the state

4. The private sector must be more involved in the financing and delivery of infrastructure needed to support a structured decentralisation program

The Hon Steve Bracks AC

Steve Bracks was elected the 44thPremier of Victoria in 1999 and was one of the State’s longest serving Premiers.

Subsequent to his retirement as Premier of Victoria, The Hon Steve Bracks AC now holds three major honorary positions: as an Adviser to the Prime Minister of Timor-Leste; and, as a Director of the Bionics Institute of Australia Board. He is also Honorary Chair of The Union Education Foundation.
 

He is Chairman of the superannuation fund Cbus, a non-executive Director of Jardine Lloyd Thompson Australia; the Bank of Sydney; and a member of the Monash Business School Business Advisory Board (BAB); the Australian Republican Movement’s Republican Advisory Panel (RAP); and, the West of Melbourne Alliance Board. Mr Bracks is also Chair of AFL SportsReady – the training body for the AFL and Chair of the Kardinia Park Stadium Trust. He was a Senior Adviser to KPMG from 2007 to 2012 and also a member of the National Australia Bank’s Philanthropic Board from 2008 to 2013.

Mr Bracks was also the Independent Chair for the Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association (ASTRA) from 2008 to 2013.  He was the Automotive Envoy for the Australian Government 2009-2013. Additionally from 2011-2013 he was appointed Member of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Council for Australian-Arab Relations (CAAR).
 

Mr Bracks received a Companion of the Order of Australia in 2010 for services to the Parliament and community of Victoria. In 2011 he was presented with the Timor-Leste Solidarity Medal. He has also received Honorary Doctorates from both Ballarat and Deakin Universities

The Hon Patrick (Pat) McNamara
 

Pat was the Deputy Premier of Victoria from 1992 to 1999 and the Leader of the National Party (Victoria) from 1988 to 1999. During the term of government Pat held numerous Ministerial positions including the Minister for Tourism and the Minister for Agriculture and Resources.

During his time in Government Pat was a member of the Budget Expenditure Review Committee that drove Government financial reform reducing State debt and returning Victoria to a triple-A credit rating.

Pat served as Goulburn Shire President, 1977 and a Goulburn Shire Councillor, 1974-1982.

Since leaving parliament Pat has served as a Member of the MCG Trust, Chairman of the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund,  Board member of The Voice of Horticulture Pty Ltd – representing horticulture across Australia, a Board member of Wine Victoria, Victorian councilor for Rowing Australia and Deputy Chair of Goulburn Murray Water.