The Nationals New South Wales Annual State Conference

The Hon. TONY CATANZARITI [11.42 p.m.]: I recently received a call from a farmer complaining about the New South Wales Nationals Annual State Conference and wanting to know why the conference was not being held in rural New South Wales. As I was interested in the matter, I asked that the promotional material be sent to me. Like many farmers, I was surprised to discover that the conference is to be held not only in Sydney, but also with the harbour as a backdrop. The conference will be held on the North Shore at Kirribilli. I am sure that not many farmers or rural businesses, let alone regional families, will attend the conference. Given the costs involved, I am sure that not many corporate types will be in attendance either. A gold corporate pass to the conference will cost $12,500, silver $8,000 and bronze $5,000. While I do not begrudge the venues that will host the conference, I am concerned that a rural or regional town or centre is missing out on the custom, which would be most welcome in these times of need in the bush.

As a farmer and a member of Country Labor, I wonder what message this sends to our rural communities. How can country people feel that The Nationals represent them and formulate policies that assist them when, given the chance to lead by example, The Nationals hold their annual conference in the heartland of Liberal Party Sydney? I have often heard it said that The Nationals are becoming Sydney centric, that they are abandoning the bush and have forgotten their roots. Many people have lamented that the once-proud National Party is little more then a political appendage to get seats in the Parliament for the Liberal Party. It seems that The Nationals have become the chardonnay-sipping yuppies that the former member for Murray-Darling Peter Black was concerned about. The National literature constantly states that they are the "only party that is solely dedicated to representing New South Wales country and coastal people and their communities". This idea is reinforced in the opening paragraph of the annual conference flyer, where it is stated:

The Nationals provide a vital balance ensuring people living outside the major metropolitan centres have a voice in Parliament. Without The Nationals, Government policy would be determined by a substantial majority of city-based Parliamentarians.

As all members know, while The Nationals make the spurious claim at each and every election that it is a party in its own right and independent of the Liberal Party, at the end of the day its members are the obedient servants of their Liberal bosses and do everything their masters say. Their masters are, by and large, the city- and urban-centric Liberal Party bosses to whom they are called to heel. While clearly I do not hold the overall party in high esteem, I believe a small number of Nationals members are worthy of joining Country Labor. I would be happy to welcome them to one of our meetings. Still the sad fact remains, given that this conference is to be held on the leafy North Shore of Sydney in the heartland of the Liberal Party and the home of John Howard, many more in our rural communities will question the direction and, indeed, the very future of The Nationals.