Charlotte Varcoe
SOUTH Australia’s newest cross border commissioner, Kelly-Anne Saffin has hit the ground running, meeting with state cabinet this week.
Ms Saffin is currently the chief executive of Regional Development Australia Adelaide (RDA) and spent a decade as chief executive of Regional Development Australia Yorke and Mid North.
Her professional background also includes other regional development roles in the Limestone Coast, Mid North and Eyre Peninsula.
Ms Saffin said there were two compelling reasons why she put her hand up for the job.
“One is the scope of the position, the opportunity to work with communities where I have grown up, to assist in the trade service and economic development across the border and into regional South Australia,” Ms Saffin said.
“Second is I truly think we have such economic potential in agricultural manufacturing that coexist on our side and I think we have an opportunity to grow that and I am delighted to be in a position to assist in that.”
She said it was a rare opportunity to be based in a regional area and be able to create and have the opportunities to have dialogue straight to ministers and other departments.
“I think that is a rare but growing opportunity and the second thing is there was already some really good thinking about how the synchronization and the growth of technology means that education and other things are far more seamless,” she said.
“What I would like as commissioner is for the cross border communities to really embrace that.”
Ms Saffin said when she first decided to leave the region, it was necessary to achieve certain outcomes, something she now saw was changing.
“There is an opportunity to make sure that where it is possible we synchronize regulations or legislations and make that ease of doing trade and moving,” she said.
“That being the case I definitely think some opportunities the Green Triangle Region in particular has really led in terms of collaborative break infrastructure.”
She said she had the opportunity in her current role in RDA to work from infrastructure projects and prioritisation.
“I am really looking forward to bringing back my family and to be around home,” Ms Saffin said.
“It is absolutely compelling but it is also a fantastic place to live, the lifestyle, position, we underestimate sometimes how having the ability to be around such fantastic nature and other activities but also in the proximity to major capital cities.”
Ms Saffin said having a cross border commissioner was important for the regions with some already in place in Victoria and New South Wales.
“The advantage of us joining that and being able to have genuine conversations and match that in terms of how we work with communities is a great advantage,” she said.
Premier Peter Malinauskas said the need for a cross border commissioner became “stark” during the “depths of ever-changing and differing Covid-19 restrictions”.
“However, differing policies, regulation and practices can create complications at any time for businesses that regularly operate cross border,” Mr Malinauskas said.
“It is important that the unique needs of our regional border communities are heard and addressed and Ms Saffin is well equipped to support that goal.”
Minister for Regional Development Clare Scriven also congratulated Ms Saffin on her new position.
Ms Saffin will be based in Mount Gambier/Berrin and will begin her new role in October.
