Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will lead the 2025 National Bush Summit, committing to ramp up support for regional Australia amid a year marred by devastating droughts and floods.
The landmark event, organised by News Corp Australia, will take place on August 29 in Ballarat, Victoria, and will bring together state and federal leaders, community figures and industry to address the structural challenges faced by rural and remote areas.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley and Nationals Leader David Littleproud will also appear, setting the stage for crucial bipartisan dialogue on disaster preparedness, economic resilience and food security.
“Our regions are the backbone of our nation,” Mr Albanese said. “I’ve seen firsthand the toll drought and floods have taken on farmers, families and rural businesses. This summit is about listening and acting.”
The Prime Minister highlighted his visits to flood-affected areas in NSW and Queensland and to drought-stricken farms in South Australia, vowing his government would deliver a national food security strategy during its second term.
This year’s summit—backed by Hancock Prospecting—will begin in Broome and travel through Mount Gambier, Toowoomba, and Wagga Wagga, concluding in Darwin.
Herald Sun editor Sam Weir called the Bush Summit a “vital platform” to advocate for rural Australians. “Regional Victoria is the heart and soul of our state. The Bush Summit gives communities a chance to shape the future, not just survive crises,” he said.
With rural communities still recovering from climate-related disasters and economic strain, the summit is expected to generate renewed pressure on governments at all levels to address long-standing inequality between urban and regional Australia.
