Strategic focus

Purpose

Support improved access to, and seamless delivery of, government services and infrastructure for cross border residents and businesses.

Vision

Thriving and resilient cross border communities.

Values

Trusted and Transparent: Transparent and accountable in all our dealings, sharing appropriate information and acting in a trusted, fair and honest manner.

Facilitating Connections: Facilitate connections, linking key decision makers, sharing relevant information and leveraging opportunities.

Responsive and Motivated: Act on matters raised and communicate progress, strategize in the best interest of cross border community members and businesses.

Engaged and Knowledgeable: Work hard to engage with communities, key leaders and decision makers to get the right information for evidence-based decision making by government.

Promotion: Champion for Cross Border communities in relevant forums, engaging with local, state and federal governments, building strong connections and networks.

Accessibility: Be present and accessible to all in our cross-border communities.

Strategic objectives and deliverables

The Strategic Priorities for the Office of the Cross Border Commissioner (OCBC) as follows:

Workforce skills and education

  • Explore the use of mutual recognition of qualifications/accreditations.
  • Assist agencies in their efforts to attract in demand skills.
  • Advocate for equitable access to training and education opportunities.
  • Examine skills mobility and enabling policy settings.

Integrated programs, service and infrastructure planning

  • Help agencies and communities advocate for access to health services and integrated health service planning.
  • Support infrastructure planning focusing on opportunities in freight, transport and energy transmission, planning and digital connectivity

Ease of doing business and promoting economic outcomes

  • Examine options to streamline occupational licensing.
  • Communicate a clear understanding of different economic and policy settings in key industries including forestry, agriculture and manufacturing.
  • Examine the opportunities for deemed consent where businesses have achieved registration in a neighbouring jurisdiction for specific functions.

Resilient and connected communities

  • Partner with leading agencies to ensure consistency of cross border policing and justice settings.
  • Assist in advocating for seamless access to child protection services.
  • Support mutually beneficial biosecurity measures to address emerging risks.
  • Identify practical solutions to cross border issues in emergency management with a particular focus on collaborative recovery efforts.

Key deliverables

  • Deliver on MoU and arrangements for cross border collaboration with Victoria and New South Wales through agreed priorities.
  • Work with the Cross Border Commissioners Forum to co-operate on common opportunities and challenges across jurisdictions.
  • Examine skills and labour mobility covering mutual recognition of skills, exempted professions, occupational licensing, technical colleges, VET and TAFE access for cross border communities.
  • Conduct a stocks and flow analysis of cross border economies, including service mapping of catchment areas across South Australia’s borders.

The Cross Border Commissioner is an agency of the Crown. From 11 April 2024 the Cross Border Commissioner reports to the Premier of South Australia.

Damien Walker, the Chief Executive of Department of the Premier and Cabinet was the Acting Cross Border Commissioner from 11 April 2024 to 7 October 2024.

On 8 October 2024 Kelly-Anne Saffin commenced as Cross Border Commissioner for South Australia.

A Project Support Officer commenced with the OCBC on 17 February 2025. In addition, a short-term contract for a six-month Principal Policy Officer commenced on 17 March 2025.

The Cross Border Commissioner reports to The Hon Peter Malinauskas MP, Premier of South Australia.

The OCBC is required to fulfill obligations and functions defined by the Cross Border Commissioner Act 2022 (external site) (PDF) (external site) (PDF) (SA).

The Cross Border Commissioner role is governed by the Cross Border Commissioner Act 2022 (SA), with a primary purpose to facilitate improved outcomes for people and businesses in cross border communities, among other purposes.

Under Section 7 of the Act – Functions of Commissioner

The functions of the Commissioner are as follows:

(a) to facilitate collaboration between governments and service providers to address issues involving cross border communities.
(b) to work and engage with all tiers of government, businesses and the community to ensure the needs of cross border communities are considered in the development and implementation of policy, procedures and legislation.
(c) to identify key barriers for economic development in the cross-border regions.
(d) to advocate for a simplified regulatory environment for business growth and labour mobility in the cross-border regions.
(e) to facilitate better access to services for cross border communities by working with other jurisdictions and service providers to improve planning for and access to a range of education, justice, health and community services for those communities.
(f) to update and inform cross border communities and businesses on issues and progress.
(g) to prepare an annual plan in consultation with the Minister.
(h) to provide reports on any aspect of the Commissioner’s functions at the request of the Minister or on the Commissioner’s own initiative.
(i) any other functions conferred on the Commissioner by or under this or any other Act or by the Minister.