Last week the CWA of NSW was privileged to attend the Bush Summit in Dubbo.
The summit was focused on rural communities and the challenges the current drought has presented in particular.
It was host to key decision makers, including Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Deputy Premier John Barilaro and Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall as well as representatives from state and federal opposition.
The Bush Summit like many forums is at risk of being labelled a "talk fest" unless we see some meaningful action to come out of it. The fact that our pollies came is most pleasing. Showing up, listening, and having the conversation is the critical starting point.
The CWA of NSW discussed on the panel specifically the impact on the social fabric of rural communities.
A healthy social fabric starts with a healthy economy and it needs to be underpinned with equitable access to services such as education facilities, health and allied health services, connection, and strategic, not haphazard, infrastructure.
We were pleased to speak on this topic of social fabric for a number of reasons. Firstly, the preservation and building of the social fabric in rural communities is a primary advocacy area for the CWA of NSW.
The CWA of NSW was founded on the very premise that access to services and investment in regional areas should be prioritised and we continue to make this call now.
The second reason that the topic of social fabric is pertinent to the CWA of NSW relates to our current policy and advocacy work, particularly on drought. We continue to distribute drought funds to farming families, generously donated by the public, and we continue to participate in government forums at a state and federal level aiming to improve the government's response and actions on drought.
Further, at our conference in May this year, delegates discussed and passed a motion calling for drought support for all rural businesses, not only primary producers. This policy motion is based on the premise that farming businesses depend on local town businesses, and vice versa.
Economies in regional, rural and remote areas are truly struggling at the moment due to drought conditions. Even the most resilient of communities are hurting.
There have been improvements made to some of the drought programs recently, and some good regional infrastructure items being ear-marked as a result of the sale of some state assets.
However, we continue to call for a tailor-made drought support program for all rural businesses, including businesses beyond the farm gate. Its urgent and it has been for some time now.
We call on our politicians to take urgent and direct action. It is so important to assist non-primary producer small businesses in rural communities who are struggling to make it through this drought.
