Rural Australia

The Principles

Australia's cultural and historical roots are deeply embedded in rural Australia.

All Australians, including Rural Australians, have the right to an adequate standard of essential services.

Healthy, functioning rural communities are vital for the social and environmental wellbeing of the nation.

The value of rural communities to the life of the nation as a whole goes beyond their economic or productive value.

The integrity of the environment, its restoration and preservation, is essential to our ongoing development as a nation.

The Issues

1. Current rural hardship has its roots in a number of factors:

• fluctuating commodity prices and deteriorating terms of trade

• uncertain global market conditions

• world trade protectionism in agricultural commodities among Australia's competitors

• microeconomic reform and the withdrawal of services by both government and the private sector, eg banks, rail and postal services, health, education, air services

• rising cost of production relative to farm income

• environmental factors, eg excessive land clearing, logging, salinity and unworkable regulations.

2. The economic rationalist policies dominating Australian politics have resulted in a shifting of power from communities of people to corporations, thus disempowering, demoralising and impoverishing rural communities.

3. The restructuring of the national economy has caused greater job loss and lower wages throughout rural Australia.

4. Rural communities have limited access to essential telecommunications services.

5. The progressive loss of key services has led to greater inaccessibility and higher costs, associated with accessing services.

6. The continuing high price of fuel places farmers, small businesses and indeed all rural residents at severe disadvantage, as well as adding to the cost of production.

7. Diminishing employment opportunities are forcing young people to move to regional centres or capital cities.

8. Year 12 retention, literacy and numeracy rates are much lower in rural than in urban areas. Youth unemployment is higher.

9. The negative social impact of the drift to the cities has resulted in further diminishment of country services and overstressed urban services.

10. Rural disadvantage is most pronounced among Indigenous Australians.

11. People living in rural and remote areas suffer higher mortality rates, higher rates of hospitalisation, and have less access to health services, particularly mental health services.

12. Youth suicide by males in rural areas is at least twice that of urban suicides.

13. Damage and degradation of the land and rivers are aggravated by agribusiness, eg cotton growing, lot feeding, and damage and neglect by absentee owners. Land management by rural landowners is not sufficiently recognised or supported.

Alternatives

1. The development of an encompassing, long-term national strategy for regional and rural development, which includes:

• the promotion, creation and maintenance of rural industries

• increased accessibility to basic medical services

• improved telecommunications services (particularly for remote communities and remote schools) and expanded mobile coverage

• educational programs and strategies to encourage young people to complete secondary schooling and continue on to tertiary education and apprenticeships · improved opportunities for Indigenous Australians

• the development and subsidisation of environmentally sound policies.

2. The further subsidisation of petrol prices in rural and remote areas, as well as the provision of adequate public transport.

3. Incentives for businesses and services to remain in, or move to rural areas, thus providing essential services and employment opportunities.

4. Incentives for creative alternatives to fill the gaps (eg Transaction Centres), and incentives, such as housing and wage supplements, for those prepared to work in the country.

5. A determination by both Commonwealth and State governments

• to review the status of farm properties in assessing eligibility for Aged Pensions

• to allow unemployment benefits for casual rural workers to recommence promptly when employment has ceased

• to promote family cohesion by not insisting that rural unemployed move to other areas

• to review the provision of the youth allowance for rural students.

6. An improved quality of communication between government agencies and rural communities, to determine the actual needs of these communities and develop long-term infrastructure and development plans for the future, both on a national level and for regional areas.