The Prime Minister attended the annual Regional Summit in Dubbo on Wednesday, a gathering of mayors, business leaders, and community representatives from across rural and regional Australia. According to multiple participants, the tone was unusually direct, with several delegates taking the opportunity to air grievances over two of the government's signature policy areas: the renewable energy transition and post-2024 migration levels.
On green energy, criticism centered on the rapid expansion of wind and solar farms and the associated transmission infrastructure. Several speakers argued that the benefits of the energy transition were flowing disproportionately to coastal cities, while regional areas bore the brunt of land use changes and visual amenity impacts. 'There is a deep sense that decisions are being made in Canberra without proper consultation on the ground,' one source familiar with the discussions told Zotpaper.
On migration, leaders raised concerns about the strain on housing, health services, and schools in regional towns that have absorbed a significant share of the post-pandemic intake. While some acknowledged the economic necessity of skilled migration, they argued that infrastructure investment had not kept pace.
The Prime Minister acknowledged the concerns, according to a government spokesperson, and reiterated that the energy transition would create thousands of regional jobs. On migration, he pointed to the government's Housing Australia Future Fund as a long-term solution to supply pressures. 'The PM listened carefully and stressed that regional Australia stands to gain enormously from the industrial transformation underway,' the spokesperson said.
However, critics from within the coalition were quick to seize on the reports. Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Bridget McKenzie, said the incident showed 'the government is out of touch with the people who actually live and work in the regions.'
The summit continues on Thursday, with sessions on drought resilience and digital connectivity.