(Photo: Twitter)
March 15, 2017
The Federal Government has set up a Regional Ministerial Taskforce in a bid to improve the lives of rural, regional and remote Australians.
The taskforce, which will be headed by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, was announced on Tuesday.
Other members will include Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, Regional Development Minister Senator Fiona Nash and other senior Cabinet Ministers including Greg Hunt, Simon Birmingham, Darren Chester, Arthur Sinodinos and Michaelia Cash.
The MPs will consider cross-portfolio issues as they specifically relate to regional Australia.
Some of the issues to be examined include health, education, transport and infrastructure, employment and industry and communications.
Senator Nash said a cross-portfolio taskforce was the best way to implement good regional policy across multiple portfolios and continue to invest in rural, regional and remote Australia.
“The PM’s presence gives it real grunt,” she said.
“I aim to help build the kinds of sustainable regional communities our children and grandchildren either want to stay in or come back to, and that means thinking well beyond the next election.”
Member for Maranoa David Littleproud said the Taskforce would play an important role in giving regional Australia “a voice at the table”.
