Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senators Canavan, Davey, McDonald and McMahon, move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) regional Australia is a fundamental pillar of our economy, and will play a critical role as we emerge and rebuild from the economic impacts caused by COVID-19,

  (ii) our regional, rural and remote areas punch well above their weight; they represent just under a third of the national population, yet contribute two thirds of our national income,

  (iii) regional Australians have had to endure the COVID-19 pandemic in the wake of a devastating summer of bushfires, and

  (iv) the courage demonstrated by those in our regions as they continue to persist and resist, time and again, characterises the best of what it means to be Australian; and

(b) commends the Liberal and Nationals Government on:

  (i) continuing to recognise and respect the challenges faced by our regional communities, and letting those in bushfire-affected communities know that they have not been forgotten by this Government,

  (ii) supporting these communities as they recover and rebuild through the $448.5 million Regional Bushfire Recovery and Development Program, and

  (iii) ensuring that our regions are better prepared than ever before the next bushfire season—attributing over $37 million towards strengthening communications across rural fire depots and evacuation centres.