Community services
- There is a strong migration away from the country to the city: outback Queensland is experiencing a net migration rate of -10%.
- Mental ill-health and psychological distress are 28.9% more common among farmers than other members of the community.
- The suicide rate in rural and remote Queensland exceeds that of other parts of the state. Queenslanders living outside of urban centres are more likely to take their own life (17.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 10.8 per in Brisbane and 12.8 in other urban centres).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Journal of Rural Health via NFF 2030 Roadmap, Queensland Mental Health Commission (PDF).
What's the issue?
Community services are far and few between in regional areas. Many people struggling due to pressures of regional life do not get the help or support they need for healthy living and sustainable livelihoods.
Why does it matter?
Poor mental health has a significant impact on those who are directly affected, such as family and friends, workplaces, emergency personnel, and the broader community, particularly within small and tightknit communities.
What's the solution?
Greater education support for children from remote areas, including continuing and lifting the Living Away from Home Allowance Scheme; and providing secure funding for embedding mental health support services, including that provided by the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
"Mental health issues are a huge concern. Rain isn't going to fix the drought problem overnight. Most people are running less than fifty percent of their normal cattle heard or sheep flock and will not have the money to restock." - Neville, Banana Shire
"Cunnamulla has many 30-year-olds returning to work as teachers, childcare workers, nurses, farmers, farm managers, diesel fitters etc and in turn enhancing the community structure and growing a vibrant community. They are having families and settling in, so we need to ensure they have education, childcare, employment and health services to support and retain them. Sadly, the families of older kids are moving on for better educational opportunities."
Here's how it can be
Equal opportunities
Vibrant regional communities
Our communities are valued places to live with all the essential services needed for a healthy, happy and productive population.
The only hope I see is with Pauline Hanson’s One Nation as the Queensland LNP are hopeless and ruled by the SE corner LNP members thus are not much better than the Labor/Greens.
Out here in Longreach, the rural sector is near done for, as it is in other areas of rural and regional Queensland, one has only to walk the main street of any rural town to see the effects of political neglect which is having a more significant effect than the drought. In Longreach, over the last ten years I have seen the closure of more than 20 businesses in town which is a clear indication of the neglect by government.
We have the Federal Government making all sorts of statements about how they are helping, yet no one out here benefits, the indicator is the slow death of rural towns. The Queensland Labor State government cares even less, as they are actively creating legislation which is adding to the woes and destruction of the rural sector.
As I see it, the only way to change the mindset of state and federal government is to cease voting for the major political parties and vote for the likes of One Nation and the Katter Party and those with similar ideals.