challenges facing places located outside major cities in Australia

Question 1

what factors is population loss in rural and urban areas of Australia driven by

Answer 1

by factors such as post-war industrialization, economic growth, globalization, and rural-urban migration.

Question 2

despite overall population growth in Australia what else is happening

Answer 2

some rural and remote locations experience significant population decline, with some areas losing up to a third of their population.

Question 3

rural areas experience population loss due to

Answer 3

Rural areas experience population loss due to young people moving to urban areas for education and job opportunities, loss of employment in remote locations due to global competition in agriculture, development of larger regional centres with better services and commerce, mechanization of farming practices, and consolidation of small farm holdings.

Question 4

what does city growth often lead to

Answer 4

to population loss in regional and remote Australia.

Question 5

what happened between 2012 and 2018

Answer 5

while Australia’s capitals grew by 1.8 million people, some areas like Meekatharra and Nhulunbuy experienced population declines of 31% and nearly 28%, respectively.

Question 6

what was seen between 2018-2019, rural areas in Western Australia, particularly the wheatbelt,

Answer 6

saw the highest percentage declines in population.

Question 7

what does demographic data in post pandemic environment reveal

Answer 7

that remote areas across the country reported a slight decline, while major cities continued to grow.

Question 8

Falling population in rural and remote areas results in

Answer 8

decline in the provision of goods and services, job losses, increased travel time and costs for accessing services, an aging population, limited social interactions, and a cycle of population loss, service decline, and further out-migration.

Question 9

examples of the impact of population loss include

Answer 9

the closure of banks and schools, which leads to increased travel distances and limited access to essential services.

Question 10

Population loss in areas outside major cities presents

Answer 10

economic, social, and cultural challenges for these communities.

Question 11

how has population loss impacted meekatharra

Answer 11

when its only bank closed, residents needed to drive 500 km to access the next nearest bank branch in Geraldton

the closure of two mid west primary schools, latham and buntin, after student numbers fell below 15

Question 12

what have mining companies adopted over the last 20 years

Answer 12

Over the past 20 years, many mining companies in rural and remote areas of Australia have adopted fly-in/fly-out (FIFO) workforces.

Question 13

what do FIFO workers provide for the mining company’s

Answer 13

provides financial benefits for mining companies by reducing the need for local services and facilities in the community.

Question 14

what is a draw back on FIFO workers

Answer 14

However, a significant drawback is the economic leakage or loss of revenue to local businesses and government as spending declines in the region.

Employees take their salaries back to their place of residence, usually urban areas or large regional centres.

Question 15

what have mine company’s been encouraged to do

Answer 15

Mining companies have been encouraged to hire local residents to minimize economic leakage, but local businesses struggle to compete with the high wages offered by mining companies and may close down as a result.

Question 16

what does the presence of non resident workers as a ‘shadow population’ do

Answer 16

disrupts the social fabric and sense of community in regional towns.

Question 17

what have FIFO practices been linked to

Answer 17

FIFO work practices have been linked to social instability and negative impacts on safety, community image, and overall amenity.

Question 18

what happened in 2013 with FIFO

Answer 18

In 2013, a parliamentary inquiry into FIFO work practices reflected the concerns of mining communities about their impact on regional communities across Australia.

Question 19

what is an example of the negative effects FIFO

Answer 19

The example of Telfer, a Western Australian mining town, illustrates the negative consequences of shifting to a FIFO work structure.

Telfer lost its sense of identity as it became solely a place of employment, with workers living in temporary accommodations and having no connection to the local community.

The town experienced a decline in commercial services, and existing housing was repurposed for the mobile mine workforce.

Question 20

what concerns were raised about FIFO in rural areas

Answer 20

Concerns were raised about the largely transient male demographic in rural and remote communities, impacting safety, community engagement, and the ability to establish a town’s identity.

Question 21

what do these issues of FIFO pose

Answer 21

These issues pose significant challenges to the survival of rural and remote areas outside major cities in Australia.

Question 22

what did the 2021 census tell us about telfer

Answer 22

had a population of 657 people witha median age of 34 and 74.6 per cent male

Question 23

what do rural and regional areas in Australia face with transport

Answer 23

Rural and regional areas in Australia face challenges in providing transportation options.

Question 24

why is public transport an issue in rural areas

Answer 24

Public transport is often not viable due to low population densities and distance from urban areas and major cities.

Question 25

how many people use public transport in rural areas compared to urban areas

Answer 25

Approximately 1.7% of rural Australians use public transport compared to almost 20% in capital cities.

Question 26

what will increase as public transport services become more expensive and are closed down

Answer 26

the reliance on private vehicles

Question 27

what does car ownership becoming more expensive cause

Answer 27

Car ownership becomes more expensive for residents, leading to a cycle of decline.

Question 28

what does a lack of public transport and reliance on private vehicles cause

Answer 28

isolate those without cars, particularly the elderly.

Question 29

what do rural and remote areas lack

Answer 29

suitable transport infrastructure, including high-quality roads and bridges.

Question 30

what is a common problem with rural roads

Answer 30

Many rural roads remain unsealed, posing safety hazards.

Question 31

why cant unsealed roads be fixed

Answer 31

Remote areas have limited funding for road maintenance and repair, resulting in many unsealed roads.

Question 32

what will cutting off roads in the wet season cause

Answer 32

cutting off communities and increasing isolation

Question 33

Lack of adequate transport infrastructure and services adversely affect

Answer 33

access to employment, education, health services, and economic opportunities.

Question 34

Effective and sustainable transport options are crucial for

Answer 34

community well-being, productivity, and growth in rural and remote areas.

Question 35

what will declining population levels in rural and remote areas cause

Answer 35

reduce their political influence

Question 36

what is the largest electorate in Australia and what does it represent

Answer 36

The electorate of Durack in Western Australia is the largest electorate in Australia and represents rural and remote areas.

Question 37

how much area does the Durack electorate cover

Answer 37

Durack covers a vast area of 1.4 million square kilometres and has 118,558 constituents.

Question 38

what challenges are faced within Durack

Answer 38

The challenges faced by the electorate of Durack include the impact of a transient fly-in/fly-out workforce, pressures on farmers, closing the gap for Indigenous peoples, population loss and service reduction, social vulnerability and exclusion, and environmental issues.

Question 39

what do these challenges require

Answer 39

These challenges require resources and attention to ensure the productivity and well-being of rural communities.

Question 40

what needs to be done to electorates such as Durack, O’Connor, and Forrest

Answer 40

The voices of people in rural electorates like Durack, O’Connor, and Forrest need to be heard and acted upon, given their significant contribution to Australia’s economy and interdependence with urban areas

Question 41

representation in state and federal parliaments is based on what and what does that cause

Answer 41

population size rather than the size of the land area, leading to reduced representation for rural regions.

Question 42

what is the differnce of people living in rural areas 100 years ago compared to now

Answer 42

40% 100 years ago now just 10%