Note from the Editors: Australasian Journal of Regional Studies - Volume 18, Number 2, 2012

The five articles in this issue share an important common theme, namely effective public management of Australia's regions. However, the spatial scales of analysis differ considerably between the contributions. Shepherd and Dixon's article looks at the impact of macro-economic stabilisation policies pursued by the Federal Government's key economic agencies on aggregate output and employment across the eight States and Territories, and find important differences between them which could have policy implications. Buultjens and his colleagues, on the other hand focus on the task of creating vibrant and authoritative Regional Development Australia committees capable of energising the 55 sub-state regions over which they preside. Such a task requires high quality and collaborative local leadership able to decide effectively on local regional opportunities and strategy and creatively engage other responsible agencies. This difficult task is not made easier by insufficient funding. Dollery and his colleagues then turn to the metropolitan scale and the vexed issue of local governance structures. Their work critiques KPMG's recommendation for fewer Sydney LGAs and a body to over sight regional development. Such debates are potentially crucial for the efficient delivery of high quality infrastructure and public services ... and through them local employment opportunities.