REGIONAL SCIENCE AND REGIONAL PRACTICE IN AUSTRALIA: A REVIEW AND COMMENT

The first regional science conference in Australia was held in 1976, almost twenty years ago. The international regional science community is currently undergoing an introspective review of its directions and values. This paper attempts a review and evaluation of progress and achievements of the regional science community in Australia. This evaluation considers the general questions of contributions to regional policy, the analytical/modelling orientation of regional science, and the so-called academic-practitioner debate. The picture which emerges is one of considerable achievement, with a number of important gaps and professional issues to be resolved.