Living in regional Australia brings many opportunities and experiences people in the big cities don’t enjoy, but it also brings challenges and some difficulties.
The Regional Australia Institute’s goal to increase the number of people living in regional Australia to 11 million by 2032 is a step to realising the potential we have in the regions, and recognising what investment needs to be made to support more Australians living happily in regional Australia.
In Indi we experience the best of living in regional Australia – friendly communities, beautiful and diverse landscapes and thriving industries. But we are also facing issues with housing, health care, child care and telecommunications.
The 20 targets named by the Regional Australia Institute highlight the challenges we face in these areas but also put forward practical, achievable solutions that would make it possible to increase opportunities and prosperity for those of us living outside regional cities.
It is appropriate that we are having this discussion about the potential of regional Australia as we approach the first federal budget of the new government, and discuss how Labor will invest in the regions.
It is concerning to hear there may be significant cuts to funding for the regions in the budget. I criticised the last government for making big promises to northern Australia for projects without business cases, that seemed to serve a political interest, not a public interest.
It’s right that the government review previous spending promises but it is not right to treat every project in regional Australia in this way, or to use cutting funding to regional Australia as a way to save money in the budget.
Yesterday I met with the Treasurer to raise my concerns about funding to regional Australia.
Regional Australia needs significant investment to thrive and to reach its full potential – it’s too important to let it fall by the wayside.
Rebalance the nation: 20 ways to strengthen regional Australia
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