Brett Davis has been appointed as Victoria’s new Cross Border Commissioner. Photo: Regional Development Victoria.
The Victorian State Government has appointed Mr Brett Davis to the position of Cross Border Commissioner, replacing the inaugural commissioner Luke Wilson who is stepping down after five years in the role.
The role of Cross Border Commissioner is to advocate for locals living and working in communities along Victoria’s 2550 km of land borders with New South Wales and South Australia.
Victorian Minister for Regional Development Gayle Tierney said Mr Davis would continue the critical work to resolve local issues and develop common approaches with neighbouring states.
Mr Davis has more than 30 years’ experience across both public and private sectors across Australia in a range of fields including town planning, local government, and industry – with a particular focus on rural and regional Victoria. He was most recently the CEO of the Moyne Shire Council in the state’s southwest and has also served as Executive Director Regional Victoria for the Victorian Planning Authority.
The Cross Border Commissioner position was established in 2018 to identify and advocate for matters affecting communities that straddle state jurisdictions. During his tenure, Luke Wilson helped design the ‘border bubble’ which was enforced during the 2020 and 2021 COVID-19 border closures.
He also helped Victoria’s border communities to access relief and recovery arrangements following the 2019-2020 Black Summer fires which affected regions in the Upper Murray and East Gippsland.
Other outcomes include advocacy for numerous reforms including V/Line regional fare caps, improved inclusion of border applicants in state government grant programs, and better information on road rule changes for P- and L-plate drivers when they cross borders.
Minister for Regional Development Gayle Tierney thanked Mr Wilson for his efforts. “We thank Luke for all his work in this role and congratulate Brett on his appointment as our Cross Border Commissioner,” she said.
“Brett has a wealth of experience and a proven track record of developing and implementing initiatives that benefit communities and help local businesses prosper.
“We understand the challenges that face our border communities, and this role is vital in helping us deliver practical outcomes for people who live in them,” she added.
Mr Davis said he was excited about the role. “I am excited about the opportunity that this role presents and keen to build on Luke’s work,” he said.
“I am passionate about rural and regional areas, economic development, and look forward to working with our Border communities, having worked with many of them in previous roles.”
