2010
WRI has long held the view that debate and research about regional Australia needs to improve if it is to secure its fair share of government and private sector investment and services. Consequently in 2010 the WRI focused on developing more advanced research methods particularly in input-output modelling, demand and supply analysis and surveys. This focus has paid dividends with WRI successfully completing a number of complex projects that have good potential to ultimately make a difference to regional Australia.
In terms of impact, WRI reports have contributed to establishing ancillary health courses at Charles Sturt University (CSU); policy on live cattle exports; regional funding for the arts; relations between a mining company and its near neighbours; and policy on access of western NSW to Sydney.
In 2010 WRI reviewed its relationship with CSU. While WRI was a controlled entity of CSU, WRI was subject to grouping with CSU for payroll tax and auditing by the NSW Auditor General. This imposed significant costs on WRI. Consequently WRI and CSU changed WRI’s relationship from controlled entity to affiliated organisation in mid 2010. In this way WRI maintains its important links with CSU without the costs.
Click here to download the 2010 report
2009
WRI celebrated its 10th anniversary on the 23rd of February in 2009. The occasion was marked by a function in the Rafter’s Bar at CSU and attended by staff, board members, clients, supporters and friends of WRI. The focus in 2009 was strengthening WRI’s financial position by returning the accounts to surplus, formalising WRI’s Australian Taxation Office (ATO) status as a charity and preparing for the cessation of the current financial support arrangement between Charles Sturt University (CSU) and WRI. The result was a healthy surplus and WRI was endorsed for charity status tax concessions by the ATO on the 6 November 2009.
In 2009 WRI successfully completed 32 economic and social projects including 9 surveys, 8 economic impact studies, 5 industry and regional profiles and 10 other more general consultation/presentation projects. Overall 20 of the projects completed were commissioned from repeat clients. WRI secured a number of new clients in 2009. These included Griffith University, NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet, OCTEC Inc, RDA Murray, Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council, Agrifoods Skills Australia, and the Victorian Government Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development.
Click here to download the 2009 report
2008
The focus for the WRI in 2008 was internal strengthening and consolidation including formalising the WRI’s Australian Taxation Office status as a charity, working towards ISO 20252 Quality Assurance accreditation and generally streamlining and improving efficiency and productivity. Good progress has been achieved on all of the activities with the Charity status in particular, almost complete.
In 2008 WRI successfully completed 22 economic and social projects including 15 business, community and industry surveys and two economic impact studies. A further four economic impact studies, commissioned in 2008, are due for completion in early 2009. Overall, 14 of the 22 projects completed were commissioned by repeat clients. WRI secured a number of new clients in 2008. These included: Bond University, Tweed Economic Development Corporation, Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council, Albury-Wodonga Development Corporation and Chifley Business School. In addition, a number of ecology projects were completed by Professor David Goldney and Dr Anne Kerle.
Click here to download the 2008 report
2007
In 2007, both the size of the WRI and the number of projects increased sharply. The WRI secured the national Westpac-CSU Agribusiness Survey, secured repeat economic impact work with Australian Pork Limited, won the contract to conduct a series of surveys with Cotton Consultants Australia, continued to conduct the Regional Business Survey and won the contract to conduct an audit of television stations licences in regional Australia.
In addition, the WRI conducted 10 community or business surveys, economic impact studies for 3 universities and delivered seven presentations for business and university groups. Overall, the WRI completed 29 projects in 2007, excluding the quarterly Agribusiness and Regional Business surveys. Of the completed projects, 13 or 45% were from repeat clients.
For copies of earlier Annual Reports, please contact WRI.