The Fifth Estate: Regional Concerns

Who wields political influence in the regions? Since its inception as the Australian Country Party in 1920, the Nationals have aimed to promote rural solidarity and ‘countrymindedness’, and have long held influence as Australia’s ‘third party’. Recently, however, the Nationals have faced difficulties engaging a previously loyal base, resulting in worsening results on state and Federal levels.

Are the Nationals facing a branding crisis from which they can recover, or are changing regional demographics rendering the idea of a specialty country party obsolete? What are the challenges of representing rural interests in politics, and what could a party offer over independents – particularly when geographically distant electorates can have very divergent interests?

Sally Warhaft is joined by former Victorian Nationals leader Peter Ryan for a considered look at politics in the country: the evolving role of the National Party, the rising power of independents, and the driving concerns of regional Victorian voters.