Regional Powerhouse Absent from Election Debates

  Parramatta is the gateway to the third largest economy in Australia - Western Sydney. It has been said many times, and quite correctly, that Western Sydney is an "economic powerhouse". Western Sydney is just one region in Australia that has its own identity and economy based on specific industries and in many cases, surges in population. Yet the debates in this sudden election seem t o be focused almost entirely on demographic groups at the expense of geographic considerations.

 The economic "miracle" in The People's Republic of China is based on economic regions. Over the past decade a number of delegations from China have visited Western Sydney, almost without exception representing a province; a region. They come to deal region to region not demographic to demographic. Trade between regions is more and more the basis of trade between countries yet electioneering to date seems to have passed over this crucial aspect of our economy.

 It isn't just trade though that dictates a better focus on regions is required. Transport is critical to regional productivity and employment. The focus on health by both major parties is laudable and certainly welcome; however transport issues should not be overlooked. In fact transport problems, including parking, around major medical facilities in Western Sydney are a by-product of the failure to properly plan and administer a burgeoning region.

 If regionalisation was a great deal closer to the forefront of political/economic thinking it would surely assist any government in delivering the range of services for which they are responsible.