The dawn of a New Year brings with it a sense of hope and optimism and moves us one step closer to our collective vision of ‘rebalancing the nation’- ensuring appropriate services and opportunities for all Australians no matter where they reside.
This is particularly front of mind in North Queensland, where incredible scenes of devastation are unfolding after days of unrelenting rain. The people of this region are no strangers to a ‘big wet’ – but it is clear this ongoing natural disaster will leave a lasting impact and affect the wider nation at large.
It is why, as we take this vision into 2025, we embrace the upcoming federal election as an opportunity to debate the issues that will shape this vision’s success or failure, ensuring the regions are a part of important national discussions.
Engaging with all leaders, both future and current, on regional Australia’s role within the national agenda is a critical priority. It is a chance for all sides of politics to listen to regional voters and to ensure that the promises they take to the next election, aligns with the current needs of regional Australia and contributes to the future prosperity of all Australians.
Key to prioritising regional Australia in the national debate is broad and deep acceptance of the role regional Australia is set to play in our nation’s future.
We currently feed the nation, power the nation and drive the top 10 exports. We represent 37% of the population, and for the first time in seven decades, we welcome more city dwellers moving to regions each year, than the opposite direction. Record jobs, a lower cost of living, great communities and wide-open green spaces are some of the key reasons two-in-five city dwellers (a stark 40%) are considering a move to the regions. So, what are the settings we require to enable this prosperity?
To achieve our vision of rebalancing the nation, we need to ask all our political leaders, current, future and aspiring the question – how well do you know regional Australia?
And this goes beyond our current political and governance environment, because every single ministerial department makes decisions that impact regional, rural and remote Australians. And it is every parliamentarian, Labor, Liberal, National, Green or Independent that has a say in policy making and the passing of legislation.
Are leaders who come from our cities aware of the very different challenges in regional Australia, so they can make decisions that propel regional Australia forward?
Are current and future members of our metropolitan seats aware that job vacancies in the regions have grown three times faster than in their own backyard?
Do they know that while cutting migrant numbers can relieve pressure in Melbourne and Sydney, they are already declining in regions desperate for more skilled labour?
Are current and future members of metropolitan seats aware that while childcare is an issue in cities, the situation is dire in regional areas, which is creating a hand brake on social and economic opportunities for families and communities?
Does every urban politician appreciate what it means for regional Australia to be hosting 90% of Australia’s renewable energy projects – leading the energy transition and facing one of the biggest transformations in a generation?
Do they understand the liveability and service challenges this is placing on our regional communities, who were already hampered from multi-generational under-investment? Housing, health, education and workforce training. Can you even imagine for a moment what it feels like to be told the local GP’s books are closed due to demand with no emergency facility within 300km?
Parties and politicians who focus on city-centric, one size fits all policy agendas, ignoring the challenges of regional Australia, will ultimately risk votes.
Anyone who still believes there ‘aren’t enough votes’ to matter in the regions, haven’t yet looked under the hood of recent elections.
At the 2022 federal election Labor clinched power by swinging metropolitan seats. However, of the 18.5% of seats that swung towards the Liberal and National parties on two-party preferred preferences, 61% were in regional and rural areas. In the last Queensland election, the swing right was modest in the cities but deemed huge in the regions.
In the United States, the surge in rural Republican votes was reported as ‘backlash’ to unpopular Democratic agriculture policy not focused on the needs of rural communities, and credited as one of the big contributors to a Trump win.
Urban and regional communities have different needs, they vote differently and despite the smaller regional population, their vote can shift the balance of power.
Regional Australian communities want to hear how policy, both present and future, will impact them and the specific challenges they face. While issues like cost of living, housing and jobs are shared with metropolitan areas, the impact of relevant policies is often very different.
If Australia wants to fast track to a more productive and prosperous nation, we need to shift our gaze to regional Australia.
As Australia’s only think tank focused on regional Australia, we continue to share the data and evidence that showcases the very real renaissance that is happening before our eyes – yet our capital cities or swinging seats continue to take centre stage.
Let’s not repeat history, let’s ensure that a vision for our nation has a vision for our regions at its centre. Over the coming months we’ll be sharing our plan for the future that propels our Regionalisation Ambition.
We’d love to hear your ideas for the future as well – collective action is the only action worthy of pursuing.
Liz Ritchie
CEO, Regional Australia Institute (RAI)