Orange mayor John Davis OAM, has welcomed today’s announcement that the headquarters of a proposed new government agency will be based in Orange.
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce unveiled the initiative today.
“Barnaby Joyce is one of the most positive parliamentarians in Australia today and the decision to open a new government agency in Orange will be welcomed by the local community,” Cr John Davis said. “Mr Joyce has shown that he can deliver for regional areas and this is a sign of that commitment.”
“Thirty new jobs working here in Orange is good news for the local economy.”
“The ‘critical mass’ of business and agriculture specialists that are already working out of Orange makes it a good choice for the Australian government to locate a new centre to administrate loans to the rural sector.”
“Orange City Council is always looking to attract government organisations to the region. We’ve made submissions to the government and a recent Senate inquiry on decentralisation.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Barnaby Joyce today announced that the headquarters of the newly created Regional Investment Corporation (RIC) will be based in Orange.
In Orange to make the announcement, Mr Joyce said the RIC’s move in early 2018 would provide a boost for the entire region.
“The RIC was a key Coalition Government election commitment, designed to improve delivery of funds to farmers and ensure greater national consistency in farm business loan assessments,” Mr Joyce said.
“Orange is an important agricultural hub in a region which generates about $1.7 billion in gross agricultural production, and is the home of the NSW Department of Primary Industries.
“Locating the RIC in Orange makes sense, building on the existing base of agricultural investment institutions in the city, including the New South Wales Rural Assistance Authority and Macquarie Bank’s Paraway Pastoral livestock enterprise.
"Establishing the RIC here will present new growth opportunities for the city and surrounding area, creating expanded career pathways for regional people.”
Minister Joyce said the government considered several regional locations for the RIC, including Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Bendigo, Lithgow, Toowoomba and Wagga Wagga.