PRIORITIES AND POSITIONS
Read on to find out what I stand for and suggested solutions for some of the challenges faced in our communities. As I continue to engage with community members and learn more about their needs, these conversations will shape further position statements.
Regional representation is at the core of my campaign.
I believe in fighting for equity in access to essential services, healthcare, aged care, mental health support and housing - bringing a regional voice to policies and legislation.
This will ensure the sustainability of our regional, rural and remote towns so that they can be around for many generations to come.
The position statements you find below have been informed and shaped by conversations with you, the people of Farrer.
Water Management Position Statement
Water Policy Must Work for Rivers and Communities
For too long, decisions about the Murray–Darling Basin have been made far from the communities that live with the consequences.
Secure
Invest in modern water infrastructure and storage.
Restore
Healthy rivers and native fish- including restoring the Coorong estuary and reviewing the operation of the South Australian barrages.
Accountability
Reform the Water Act and Basin Plan so regional communities have a real voice.
Investigate
A Federal Royal Commission into Basin water management.
Protect
End damaging water buybacks that strip water from regional communities.
Measure
Consistent Basin-wide water measurement and transparent reporting.
My water plan is simple:
Because water policy must protect our rivers and the communities that depend on them.
Albury Wodonga Hospital Position Statement
Albury Wodonga Health is a vital service for our cross-border community, but the current split-campus model creates inefficiencies and safety risks. A single-site, greenfield, purpose-built hospital could provide a long-term solution that ensures high-quality care and a sustainable workforce.
A fully funded, single-site, greenfield hospital that meets the region’s long-term healthcare needs.
Stronger collaboration between state and federal governments to secure fair and sustainable funding.
I will advocate for:
Addressing workforce challenges, including pay parity and recruitment barriers.
In-person consultation between government decision-makers and the Albury Wodonga community.
The people of Albury Wodonga deserve a hospital that delivers quality care now and into the future.
Regional Housing Position Statement
The housing crisis in regional Australia is driving away key workers, limiting job opportunities, and making it harder for vulnerable Australians to find secure housing. High infrastructure costs, slow development approvals, and a lack of investment are restricting housing supply.
More affordable homes for essential workers
Investment in critical infrastructure like water, sewerage, and transport to support sustainable growth
I will advocate for:
Increased public and social housing
Streamlined development processes that support local councils and communities.
By working together, we can build sustainable, thriving regional communities where people can live, work, and stay.
Public School Funding Position Statement
Public schools remain chronically underfunded, despite educating the majority of Australian children. We need immediate action to address this disparity and ensure every child has access to quality education.
Full funding of public schools by 2028
Accelerating the current 2034 timeline.A fair and transparent funding model
Ensuring schools receive funding based on student need.Ending funding disparity
Stopping private school funding from growing at twice the rate of public school funding.
I will advocate for:
Government accountability
Ensuring funding commitments are met and public schools receive 100% of the required funding.Defending public education
rejecting policies that devalue or underfund our public schools.
Education is a right, not a privilege. We must invest in public schools now to secure a fair and prosperous future for all students.
Fairer Travel for Regional Australians Position Statement
Regional Australians pay more and get less when it comes to air travel. Expensive and infrequent flights make it harder for people in Farrer to access healthcare, education, and business opportunities. With the future of regional airline services like Rex uncertain, it's time for action. I am advocating for a government-supported initiative to ensure regional flights are more affordable and reliable, so our communities stay connected.
Regulated and Subsidised Regional Flights
Regulated prices and subsidies.Better Flight Schedules
More frequent and practical flight options.Economic Growth
Improved travel access for jobs and investment.
I will advocate for:
Healthcare Access
Affordable flights for specialist medical care.Support for REX
Ensuring it remains a viable regional airline.
Regional Australians shouldn’t pay more for essential travel. This position ensures fairer, more affordable air travel for regional communities.
Regional Equity Position: Fair Funding for Regional Communities
Regional councils are being asked to do more with far less. They’re responsible for maintaining essential infrastructure—roads, water systems, community buildings—across vast distances, but with limited budgets and lower rate income than their city counterparts. On top of that, many don’t have the in-house expertise needed to navigate complex funding processes.
I believe our rural communities deserve better. I’m calling for a funding system that reflects the reality of delivering services in the regions.
Push for a fair funding model that’s based on need and the real cost of service delivery—not just population size
Help local councils identify and apply for grants to secure critical infrastructure funding
Advocate for long-term funding to support the maintenance of essential services in regional areas
If elected, I will:
Work to ensure rural councils can access the professional expertise they need to get projects off the ground
Be a strong voice in Canberra for the communities that are too often overlooked
It’s time our regional communities got the support and funding they need to thrive. I’m ready to fight for that.
Immigration Position Statement
Regional Australia has jobs, opportunity and strong communities, but we need the workers to help our regions grow and thrive.
Australia’s migration system should reduce pressure on major cities while helping regional communities attract and retain the workers they need. A one-size-fits-all policy designed in Canberra does not work for places like Griffith, Narrandera, Hay or Corowa.
Migration policy must be place-based, allowing regional communities, businesses and local leaders to identify workforce needs and shape practical solutions.
Regional migration pathways
that match real local workforce needs
Support services and settlement programs
to help migrants become part of the community
Affordable housing and infrastructure
to support regional workforce growth
My focus is on:
Strong protections for migrant workers
to prevent exploitation
Clear pathways to permanent residency
for migrants who commit to living and working in regional Australia
With the right policies, regional Australia can become a destination of choice- strengthening our industries, supporting local communities and ensuring the people who come here have the opportunity to belong and build their future.
Regional Vocational Training and Fee-Free TAFE Position
Education should be accessible to all, regardless of financial circumstances. Fee-free TAFE ensures people—especially in regional and rural areas—can gain skills, upskill, and retrain without financial barriers.
TAFE is essential to Australia’s workforce, supporting industries and strengthening communities. Criticisms of fee-free TAFE ignore the broader causes of skills shortages, such as funding cuts and industry shifts. Vocational education must prepare for the future, not just fill immediate job vacancies. Without fee-free TAFE, regional Australians would have fewer opportunities to learn and grow.
A long-term approach to workforce planning
Stronger support for regional education
Protecting and expanding fee-free TAFE
Transparent reporting on vocational education outcomes
Investment in TAFE infrastructure and educators
I will advocate for:
Fee-free TAFE is an investment in Australia’s future. I will fight to ensure vocational education remains accessible, adaptable, and adequately funded to meet the needs of our communities.
Business Reform Position
Businesses, particularly, small businesses are the backbone of our communities—especially here in regional Australia. They create local jobs, drive innovation, and bring character and resilience to our towns. But too often, they’re weighed down by red tape and regulatory complexity that makes it harder to focus on running a business.
Regional-Specific Solutions
Supporting Sustainable Business Models
Reducing Administrative Burdens
Targeted HR and Compliance Support
I will advocate for:
When small businesses thrive, so do our communities. Reform in this area won’t just benefit business owners—it will create stronger, more sustainable regional economies that keep people in our towns and connected to their communities.
Regional Health Position
Access to healthcare should never be determined by your postcode. In Farrer, people know what it means to travel hours just to see a doctor, to sit on long waiting lists, or to watch loved ones move away just to receive care. Regional communities deserve better.
From GP shortages and aged care gaps to under-resourced mental health services and hospitals unable to meet local needs, the system is stretched. What’s needed is practical, targeted action that reflects the reality of rural living and ensures care is accessible, affordable, and close to home.
Resourcing regional hospitals to deliver care in town
Regular and reliable access to allied health
A national, coordinated approach to workforce planning
A better pipeline of GPs into regional practice
Sustainable, locally-led aged care
Mental health services that are responsive, local, and sustainable
I will advocate for:
Rural and regional communities have long adapted to doing more with less. But when it comes to health, compromise is not acceptable. Every person deserves access to quality care—where they live, when they need it, and from people they trust.
This position supports a vision for healthcare in Farrer that is practical, community-driven, and grounded in equity.
Environmental Management & Sustainable Futures Position Statement
Regional communities bear the greatest burden of environmental management, from maintaining biodiversity and soil health to hosting large-scale renewable energy projects that benefit the entire nation.
Real Consultation
Regional Australians must have a voice in climate and energy decisions.Fair Transition
Support workers and industries moving from fossil fuels to clean energy.Grid Stability
Push for a clear plan to ensure reliable energy as we transition.Renewable Energy Benefits
Ensure communities hosting projects receive direct benefits.
I will advocate for:
Local Manufacturing
Advocate for battery and renewables manufacturing in Farrer.No New Fossil Fuel Projects
Focus on sustainable alternatives.Practical Solutions, Not Politics
Policies that work for regional communities.
Together, we can secure a sustainable and prosperous future for regional Australia.
Let’s work together
Please contact me to discuss anything further, or put forward your own ideas that can contribute to improving our region.
JOIN MICHELLE MILTHORPE’S TEAM
Do you believe Farrer is worth fighting for? I do.
Please support Michelle Milthorpe’s Campaign.
People powered politics - funded by the people, for the people.
Your donation will make a difference!