OPINION: In the regions poor and rich alike have to drive

I UNDERSTAND one of Treasurer Joe Hockey’s chief advisers recently purchased a property in the hinterland of Byron Bay.

I UNDERSTAND one of Treasurer Joe Hockey's chief advisers recently purchased a property in the hinterland of Byron Bay.

I don't know his or her name, but if they ever live up here any length of time, they are going to be using their car a hell of a lot more to get around.

They are also likely to be driving vast distances to commute back and forth between airports to get to and from the city.

If Hockey's adviser happens to be reading this column right now, go tell your boss to pull his bloody head in.

His thoughtless, heartless, elitist comment that "the poorest people either don't have cars or actually don't drive very far in many cases" just proves how out of touch he is with the common folk.

Our own Page MP Kevin Hogan was on ABC radio backing the excise but promising to remind Hockey that rural and regional residents use their cars a lot more because there are very few public transport options.

He also pointed out money raised from an increase in the fuel excise would be used on our roads.

I'm sure Hockey's flunky is going to come to grips with some of the narrow, potholed, rough roads we all endure on the Northern Rivers on a daily basis.

Perhaps after their tyres have worn out and their shock absorbers are shot to pieces, they'll realise that very little infrastructure money ever seems to find its way to rural and regional Australia.