Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Deputy Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Hansard source

Those of us on this side of the chamber know that, when we have strong regions, we have a strong nation. In spite of the fact that only a third of the people in this nation live outside of the capital cities, we are responsible for two-thirds of the nation's exports. Around 67 per cent of the exports are driven by regional Australia. Regional Australia clothes the cities, it feeds the cities, it provides the energy for the cities, and it makes a massive contribution to this nation.

On this side of the chamber, we know that this country can only prosper if our regions prosper. We want to make sure that we help build strong and secure regional communities into the future so that our children and our grandchildren either want to stay in those communities or come back to those communities. The coalition understands, unlike those opposite, that when we invest in regional communities it gives them confidence, and that is what they need to take their communities forward.