The state and the latrobe valley: Shaping regional politics and revitalisation

The role of government in regional development is contested. Governments increasingly prefer their engagements to take the form of 'limited' but 'strategic' intervention (Collits 2004: p.89). To date, the overarching approach has been to devolve responsibility for decision-making to regional agencies, while simultaneously emphasising that market forces provide the underpinning for regional revitalisation. This approach contributes to the empowerment of the local economic elite, and the disenfranchisement of local political leaders and other actors. The question is how can other local political and economic actors become part of this revitalisation process - Via a study of Victoria's Latrobe Valley, the argument is made that regional development is yet to become a genuinely inclusive and participatory project, undermining the efforts of this region to prepare for the transition to a low carbon economy.