Regional Communities Need to be Supported to Thrive, Premier Tells Bush Summit

That was one of the key messages in the opening addresses at News Corp Australia’s National Bush Summit in Orange this morning.

The Bush Summit, of which Your Local Club is a major partner, is taking place today at Orange Ex-Services’ Club. The event is bringing together some of Australia’s most influential decision makers to discuss the biggest issues facing regional Australia.

Among the topics being discussed are crime, business, energy and life in the bush.

Now in its sixth year, The Daily Telegraph editor Ben English told delegates that the Bush Summit aims to make a practical difference in regional communities. 

“We needed to come to the bush to witness, to listen and to be seen to be here,” English said.

“People in regional areas do not waste a lot of words and are profoundly practical by nature… they are places where people live and work, and they need the same job opportunities and resources as the rest of us.”

In his opening address, NSW Premier Chris Minns said that while regional communities are vibrant places, they do face very real challenges that need to be addressed.

“Orange has an enormous community spirit. One in five people in Orange give their time to volunteer, which is double the state average,” Premier Minns told those gathered at Orange Ex-Services’ Club.

“It’s a giving community, which breeds a sense of social cohesion. 

“[But] here in Orange, rental prices have risen by a massive 43 per cent in five years. That can be crushing for a family trying to stay afloat and hell for a business in the main street.

“We want staff in cafes, hospitals and police stations, but they have to be able to attract workers and the key ingredient to attract workers is to ensure they have a roof over their head.”

However, the Premier noted that regional and remote communities are rising to the challenge of adapting to meet the needs of locals.

“Towns like this are growing because you’re open to change,” he said.

“There are some mayors in Sydney that are nervous about new people coming into their communities… and where new houses and apartments can’t be built.

“That’s not the attitude of people and business leaders in Orange and other regional areas.”

In a boost to regional towns, the Premier used the Bush Summit to announce $200 million in funding to deliver vital upgrades across the state to reduce the number of people who are dying on country roads.

“A third of our population live in regional communities… but two thirds of road deaths happen in regional communities,” he said.

“We know that roads are the arteries of country life and having thriving regional economics, they connect our towns.”

The Bush Summit continues throughout the day, with the topic of domestic violence expected to dominate some of the discussions.

“The first thing is to acknowledge is that we’re going backwards, the prevalence of domestic violence is increasing, not decreasing,” Premier Minns said.

“As a percentage it’s higher than it is in Victoria or Queensland, that’s very sobering and so it’s a challenge for us as a government.”

News Corp’s Bush Summit Program for Thursday, 29 August

10:00 AM

Acknowledgment of Country

Latiah McMillan, Australian Indigenous Education Foundation Scholar

10:10 AM

Welcome and Keynote Address

Ben English, Editor, The Daily Telegraph

10:15 AM

Introduction to Mrs Rinehart

The Hon. Barnaby Joyce MP, Federal Member for New England, Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs

10:40 AM

Premier Address

The Hon. Chris Minns MP, Premier of New South Wales

Moderated by Anna Caldwell, Editor of The Sunday and Saturday Telegraph

11:00 AM

Crime in the Bush

Phil Donato MP, Member for Orange

Vanessa Vazquez, Founder of Birds in the Bush and solicitor at Whiteley Ironside & Shillington
James Grant, Partnerships Manager NSW, Clontarf Foundation
Moderated by Josh Hanrahan, Chief Reporter, The Daily Telegraph

11:20 AM

The Great Debate Part 1: Our Energy Future

The Hon. Barnaby Joyce MP, Federal Member for New England, Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs

The Hon. Matt Kean MP, Chair, Climate Change Authority, Former State Member for Hornsby, Former NSW Treasurer and Energy Minister
Moderated by John Rolfe, Senior Reporter, The Daily Telegraph

11:40 AM

The Great Debate Part 2: Our Energy Future

Gordon 'Des' Taylor, Farmer
Kate Hook, Community Engagement Projects Manager, Central-West Orana
Moderated by John Rolfe, Senior Reporter, The Daily Telegraph

11:50AM

Morning Tea

12:20 PM

Keynote Address

The Hon. Jason Clare MP, Minister for Education
Moderated by James O'Doherty, State Political Editor, The Daily Telegraph

12:45 PM

Panel: The Gold Mine

Jim Beyer, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Regis Resources
Senator the Hon. Jonathon Duniam,  Shadow Minister for the Environment, Fisheries and Forestry, Liberal Senator for Tasmania

Roy Ah-See, Wiradjuri Traditional Owner and Former Chair of the NSW Aboriginal Land Council
Moderated by Matthew Benns, Editor-at-Large, The Daily Telegraph

1:00 PM

In Conversation: Phoebe Litchfield

Phoebe Litchfield, Australian Cricketer
Moderated by Tamaryn Mcgregor, Reporter, The Daily Telegraph

1:10 PM

Panel: Life in the Bush

Fiona Hall, Owner and General Manager of BiteRiot! Operations
Peter Mortimer, Owner and Creator, Mortimer’s Family Wines
Moderated by James O'Doherty State Political Editor, The Daily Telegraph

1:30 PM

Panel: Thriving Regions, Big Business Local Impact

Gavin Williams, Chief Development Officer Regional and Remote, NBN
Jessica Irvine, Personal Finance Expert, CommBank

Liz Ritchie, Chief Executive Officer, Regional Australia Institute
Moderated by James O'Doherty State Political Editor Daily Telegraph

1:50 PM

ClubsNSW Address

Michael Boland, Chief Executive Officer, Broken Hill Musicians Club

2:00 PM

Communiqué and Closing Remarks

Ben English, Editor, The Daily Telegraph
Pete Stefanovic, Host of First Edition, Sky News