Gladys Berejiklian: Better internet will bring workers to the bush
As the push continues to move city workers to the country, former NSW premier turned private sector director Gladys Berejiklian has a solution in mind.
Bush Summit
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Former Premier-turned-Optus director Gladys Berejiklian is lobbying for better connectivity in the bush as new flexible working arrangements allow more workers to head to the country.
Ms Berejiklian’s views were backed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese who said the federal government is committed to expanding wireless connectivity from the homestead to the field at The Daily Telegraph’s Bush Summit 2022.
“I think what Covid demonstrated is if you do have good and appropriate connectivity, you can live and work literally most places without having to live certain kilometres away,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Flexible workplaces have dramatically shifted the way people think about that and I think it‘s a great opportunity for regional towns to grow.”
Ms Berejiklian said the key for her new employer was how connectivity can support supply chains and jobs growth.
“I think the chief key for us moving forward is to talk about how all the critical services whether it’s utilities or comms or anything else, really fit into those supply chains (to) create job opportunities and allow our regional communities to grow, not stagnate or go backwards,” she said.
Mr Albanese said connecting families with one another and supporting the productivity of Australian farms was integral to chipping away at the “tyranny of distance”.
In addition to investing $480 million to upgrade the NBN, the Prime Minister was focused on delivering full fibre-optic access to a further 1.5 million homes and businesses.
“This is about productivity, and it’s about ensuring that all Australians – no matter where you live – have access to world-class digital infrastructure,” he said. “It will make it easier for a whole range of businesses to be able to leave the congestion and expense of big cities and set up in regional towns.”
Suffering Ukraine’s warning to Aussie farmers
UKRAINE’S ambassador to Australia has warned the nation to invest in less volatile international markets as Russia’s invasioncripples Ukraine’s export capabilities.
Vasyl Myroshnychenko warned Australian farmers at The Daily Telegraph’s Bush Summit to be wary of new opportunities openedup after Ukraine was forced to withdraw from the global market.
“I think it’s in the interest of Australian farmers to go back to normal markets. Go back to markets where there is less volatility,” he said.
His comments come after Ukraine had a record breaking harvest last year but was now forced to keep its produce sitting instorage, unable to be exported as Russia’s invasion continues.
This included sunflower oil – with Ukraine one of the largest producers in the world of the key ingredient used in baby food.
“So now many people in the horn of Africa are starving because they can’t get Ukrainian food,” he said.
Mr Myroshnychenko’s comments followed another warning from a local producer that Australian businesses who relied wholly on China’s market have found themselves with “no home”.
Bill Calabria, winemaker and managing director of Calabria Family Wines, said businesses relying on exports have to continueto diversify and end the reliance on China.
He flagged India and Japan as potential opportunities for export growth.
“We’ve gone back to the traditional markets, US, UK and you’ve got to go back and re-establish (them),” he said.
“Those who were relying 100 per cent on China, you have no home. We’ve got to find a place where you can find the new market.You have small wins, but it’s very hard to make up for the loss you’ve had.
“I think we probably got a little bit lazy because it was coming so easy … it’ a lesson we had to learn, not just in wine(but) in all industry.”
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