Many agribusinesses can be developed in regional centres and near to the capital cities, and, as far as possible, small- and medium-scale manufacturing enterprises can be located close to supplies of natural resources. So, great potential exists for many of our basic necessities to be produced locally. Once Australia becomes self-sufficient in the provision of all its basic necessities, the surplus can be exported.
Today, for example, Australia grows a wide range of agricultural produce, which supplies the Australian market and is also exported overseas. But Australia still does not enjoy food security. We do not process all the processed food consumed by Australians, nor do we process Australian-grown fruit and vegetables in sufficient quantities to supply the demands of the Australian market.
Globalisation started to become widespread in the middle of the last century. Prior to that economies were more locally based. Economic activity needs to be decentralised and become more local again. Economic planning and development should start from the lowest level, where the experience, expertise and knowledge of local people can be harnessed for the benefit of all the members of the community.
There are many benefits to local socio-economic planning and development. The area of planning is small enough for the planners to understand all the problems of the area; local leadership will be able to solve problems according to local priorities; planning will be more practical and effective and will give quick, positive results; local socio-cultural bodies can play an active role in mobilising human and material resources; and local unemployment can be easily solved. A strong local community can greatly enhance community well-being.
At its lowest level, decentralised socio-economic activity should be administered by municipal authorities, at the level of local government. Local socio-economic planning and development also should be integrated with the planning and development on the state, federal and global levels.
