Land of Discontent

The last few years have seen the bush come to town. - It has been a long time since rural issues received such extensive coverage in Australia's metropolitan media. - The attention of the nation has been drawn to the severe impacts many political and business decisions have made on the social and economic fabric of regional and rural Australia. - Responses in the bush have seen traditional rural political allegiances being cast aside, as evidenced by the emergence of groups such as One Nation and strong local independents, and the demise of the Kennett Government in Victoria. - This political revolt has struck a chord in urban Australia and has possibly created a watershed within Australian public policy, with the mainstream political parties now seeking to distance themselves from the values of economic rationalism. - Land of Discontent examines the recent changes to the economic, social and cultural landscapes of regional and rural Australia. - Issues it considers include the delivery of government services and the closure of bank branches in rural areas and the restructuring of rural industries - and as a result, the communities those industries support.