Labor is for Regional Australia
Labor stands for jobs and growth in regional Australia, which means stronger, fairer and smarter regional communities.
Regional communities deserve to be the best they can be, to seize the opportunities of the future. That's why Labor has worked hard to protect jobs and support families in regional Australia.
Labor has invested billions of dollars in regional health, education, skills, roads, rail and community services.
We recognise that there is more work to be done. We want to help unlock regional Australia's potential and work with regional communities to secure their - and the nation's - future prosperity.
Without world-class broadband, regional Australia will fall behind the rest of the country and world, and local economies will suffer. In the 21st century, broadband is basic infrastructure – regional Australians need it. It’s become an essential utility, just like electricity or water.
That's why Labor is delivering the National Broadband Network: high-speed, reliable, affordable broadband to every home and business in Australia. The technology is future-proof and can be upgraded easily – future speeds will be even faster.
The rollout of the NBN is progressing rapidly. High-speed broadband to homes and businesses in cities and the bush is being rolled out right across Australia. By June this year construction will have commenced or be complete for more than 1.2 million homes and businesses.
The benefits of the NBN are clear: it will make a real difference to the lives of regional Australians in the areas of education, health and business. A student in Dubbo could participate in a specialist science class delivered by a teacher in Sydney, regional health patients will be able to receive specialist consultations from home or a local clinic without the need to travel and local businesses will have unprecedented opportunities to expand and reach new markets.
The reliability and affordability of the NBN is going to dramatically improve access to technology. Farmers will have instant access to the latest price and weather information. They will be able to track their livestock in real time, manage their crops more effectively, auction livestock online using video-conferencing, and have the ability to sell directly to buyers rather than through an intermediary.
The Coalition says Australia can’t afford to have access to the best communications system in the world. Labor says we can’t afford not to.
Labor is developing Australia’s first ever National Food Plan. This plan will be delivered as a white paper this year and will help provide a sustainable, globally competitive, resilient food supply that supports access to nutritious and affordable food. It will examine the potential challenges and opportunities for our food producers and consumers.
Animal welfare, including for animals in the live export trade, is a priority for Labor.
The Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS) has been created, which for the first time provides traceability and accountability in the live animal export trade. No other country has such a far-reaching system for overseeing the animal welfare of live animal exports.
ESCAS strictly regulates the treatment of livestock and sets a benchmark that requires exporters to take responsibility for the welfare of animals throughout their supply chain. This system applies in all existing and new live export slaughter markets.
Before an export company is granted permission to ship livestock for slaughter purposes overseas, it must demonstrate livestock will be treated at, or better than, internationally recognised animal welfare standards.