Mike Baird’s first budget will test his resolve to balance the tilted scales of social disadvantage, which weigh heavily against rural and regional communities across NSW.
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Six of the top 10 most socio-economic disadvantaged local government areas, relative to all of NSW,
are located in western NSW as ranked by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Virtually all of the most advantaged local government areas (LGA) are in northern Sydney, which is firmly in the grip of the NSW Liberals.
Balranald, Broken Hill, Central Darling, Coonamble, Walgett and Wellington rank furthest down the list – which includes two North Coast LGAs and a lone Sydney representative – Fairfield, in the western suburbs – according to the 2011 census.
The party’s senior leadership hold electorates which extend from Mosman in the south, past North Sydney, Ku-ring-gai, Warringah, Manly and north to Pittwater.
Western NSW has one minister to manage its needs – Kevin Humphries.
His electorate is also set on an expansive scale, with the seat of Barwon encompassing 30 per cent of the State.
Fresh in his office, the new Liberal leader Mike Baird, of Manly, appointed himself Minister for Western Sydney.
Announcing his appointment, Mr Baird said Western Sydney “is a key part of the city’s – and the State’s – economy and the national economy”.
“It is a growing, thriving region that I intend to spend a lot of time in,” he said.
His deputy Gladys Berejiklian became Minister for the Hunter.
University of New England human geographer, NeilArgent, said remoteness was one of a range of factors which exacerbated existing disadvantages, pointing out many metropolitan and outer suburban areas struggle with the issue.
“Remoteness is one of the major factors that contributes to disadvantage. Of course, its impact correlates with indigeneity as well,” Professor Argent said.
“Remoteness flows into lack of access to good quality education, healthcare and good food – fresh fruit and vegies – which contributes to poor health outcomes.
“Regional areas are also impacted by having people who depend on agricultural incomes, such as farmers and farm workers.
“That can be great in good years, but their incomes fluctuate.
“There are years of too much rain, flood and frosts.”
Professor Argent said the trend of workforce rationalisation in broadacre agriculture, where technology has enabled workforce numbers to be trimmed, had seen rural populations thinned accordingly.
“This has been the story of broadacre dependent communities for the last 20 to 30 years,” he said.
“It is an economic necessity, but part of the broader regional tragedy.”
Western NSW will likely have extreme difficulty attracting the skilled workers needed to build new business and generate more income to boost its socio-economic standing.
Based on data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the Department of Planning issued projections that the State’s population will increase from 7.2 million to 9.2m from 2011 to 2031, driven largely by an increase in the Sydney area from 4.3m to 5.8m.
But government initiatives are not likely to deliver growth to western NSW towns, with the most prominent initiatives – dubbed Evocities – funding Sydney residents to relocate to established regional centres: Albury, Armidale, Bathurst, Dubbo, Orange, Tamworth or Wagga Wagga.
NSW’s Evocities are expected to grow relatively rapidly at rates between 15 to 25pc.
However, western NSW towns are generally projected to decline in population between 2011 and 2031, driven by migration loss and an ageing population.
The Bourke region is set to decline by 24pc from 3100 to 2350 residents; Balranald by 30pc, from 2350 to 1650; Moree by 21.8pc from 6850 to 5850, and Broken Hill by 21pc, from 19,150 to 15,150.
Mike Foley
Senior journalist for The Land.
Senior journalist for The Land.
