Solutions to the challenges particularly facing women and young Australians in regional Australia will be at the forefront of a Regional Listening Tour announced by The Nationals.
“We are creating an opportunity to learn first-hand from those who may have felt forgotten by The Nationals, particularly women and young Australians,” Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud said.
“The Nationals will be there to genuinely listen, understand and rebuild trust.
Mr Littleproud said the Job Summit provided only a brief opportunity to outline some of the challenges facing regional Australia and he hoped to learn more through these upcoming local forums and visits to childcare centres and universities.
“Migration is not the only solution to the challenges our regions are up against,” Mr Littleproud said.
“We need to look at what can be done now to help those Australians that are already in town.
“We want to understand their challenges, what are the incentives they need to either get back to work or to stay in town.”
Mr Littleproud said he expects to hear about a variety of issues such as access to childcare, superannuation caps and the need for greater access to health services.
“We know distance is one of the greatest barriers to opportunity. So we’re coming to your town to create this opportunity to share your concerns and help us come up with the solutions.
“For example, would a Regional University Centre stop our children from leaving town? Or could paying their HELP debts be the incentive they need to stay where we need them?
“The Nationals are the only Party that represents regional Australia.
“We do not have to compromise because we have Members in the cities, this is the purity of our purpose.”
The Nationals Regional Listening Tour will start in Mildura, Victoria, next week before moving to the NSW North Coast and getting to Queensland by the end of the year.
