Regional ministerial taskforce to focus on closing gap between city, bush

New regional taskforce to focus on closing gap between city and bush for access to health, education, infrastructure.

Fiona Nash. Picture: Bohdan Warchomij.

The Turnbull government’s new regional ministerial taskforce, convened by the Prime Minister for the first time yesterday, will focus on closing the gap between the city and the bush in terms of access to health, education, infrastructure and other services.

Taskforce deputy chair and Minister for Regional Development Fiona Nash said having the Prime Minister chair the group, which includes eight cabinet ministers across portfolios including health, education, transport, employment and agriculture, gave it “real power”, and showed the government was prioritising regional communities.

Senator Nash acknowledged the perennial challenges of providing services, such as quality healthcare, in the regions.

“We do know there are some challenges out there across communities,” she told the ABC.

“We can always do more, of course.

“People are talking to me about needing more health services and doctors out in the regions.

“They want their children to have good access to education from the regions, and it’s those sorts of things that we’ll really be focusing on. A whole range of areas, Fran, under this taskforce.”

Senator Nash said a key educational barrier the taskforce would examine was the plight of students who had to move away from home to go to university.

“I think the comparison is pretty clear,” she said.

“A lot of our city students have the opportunity when they’re living in a metropolitan area to live at home and attend university.

“A lot of our regional students don’t, so they’ll be the types of things we’re discussing.”

Labor yesterday announced a regional jobs taskforce which will consult with businesses in regional centres around Australia.

Senator Nash said the key to boosting jobs in regions was to boost communities so businesses had a future, not just talk about jobs.

“What we need to do is give business out in rural and regional areas the confidence in their future so they’re investing in their businesses so they’re employing more people, so they’re employing more local tradespeople to expand their business,” she said.

“Just saying you’re going to create jobs doesn’t actually do anything.

“You’ve got to really put your effort in and make sure those businesses have got that confidence, and people need to see a future in the regions.”

The deputy leader of the Nationals dismissed speculation leader Barnaby Joyce is eyeing off the infrastructure portfolio, which would open the agriculture portfolio to her.

“I am very happy in the portfolio areas I’ve got at the moment,” Senator Nash said.

“Having this regional taskforce now in place is a tremendous step forward.

“Those are matters for the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister at some point. I’m very happy where I am.”