From David Smith MP - September/October eNews

I recently delivered a major speech to the ClubsACT Micro-Conference in which I reflected on the history of the Capital Region and sought to provide a roadmap for the future of the region.

I am proposing the Capital Region Compact. One region. One economy. One future. The Compact would be an agreement between three governments: the Commonwealth, the ACT and NSW, together with the councils of the region.

The principle is simple. Where common rules reduce costs without lowering standards, harmonise those rules. Where shared infrastructure unlocks housing and investment, plan it together. Where different settings serve a genuine local purpose, keep them. The objective is productivity, not uniformity.

Let us establish the Capital Region Economic Commission by the end of 2026. Let us build Australia's first Capital Region Economic Zone. Let us prove that governments can cooperate across borders, that regional communities can share growth, and that Canberra can once again be one of Australia's great nation-building stories.

You can read my full speech on my website.