ABSTRACT
This chapter briefly distinguishes between regionalization and regionalism. It provides an overview of the New Regionalism from the Northern Hemisphere. The chapter poses the question of what relevance is all this to Australia, and tackles this by examining regional policy in New South Wales. It looks at employment relations and industrial relations rescaling in relation to the New Regionalism. The chapter provides a review concerning the presence, to date, of the New Regionalism in Australia and considers how this relates to ideas of a shift away from the manufacturing/industrial economy towards the 'knowledge economy'. It describes the nature of regional policy in Australia as an indicator of the overall policy disposition and direction that can inform an assessment of the limits and possibilities for the New Regionalism in Australia. The chapter explores what influence industrial relations regulation has on the capacity of some regions in creating an 'associational economy' in Australia.
