Nationals Leader Michael McCormack has delivered a rousing speech to the party faithful, saying regional Australia "ain't broke" while attacking city-dwelling "whingers" for trying to undermine it.
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Addressing the Nationals' federal council meeting in Canberra on Saturday, he said regional Australia offers enormous potential with huge opportunities.
"It ain't broke, despite what sometimes people say and sometime think," the Nationals leader said.
"Face the facts, our regions power our cities, they supply the food, they provide the fibre, the materials for manufacturing."
He said the regions also deliver the export dollars that pay for the public health and schools.
The deputy coalition leader cheekily invited former Greens leader Bob Brown to "come again" to Queensland in October when the state goes to the polls.
Dr Brown was blamed by some for Labor's poor showing in the state at the May federal election after leading the anti-Adani coal mine convey through the state during the heat of the campaign.
He said it does not feel like a third term-government under Prime Minister Scott Minister, but one that has hit the reset button with a first-term plan for the nation's economic future which the people have endorsed.
Mr McCormack used the meeting to launch the National Water Grid Authority, a $100 million organisation to help secure Australia's long-term water supplies.
It will bring together scientists and harness local knowledge to shape national water infrastructure policy and identify opportunities for new projects.
"It's has been too long since we built a major dam in this country," Mr McCormack said.
"This government is establishing the National Water Grid to take out the state-based politics and insert the science with a national-based approach to water security for Australia's future."
The government has committed to 21 water infrastructure projects with a total construction value of $2 billion.
He also threw his support behind a national rollout of the cashless debit card, a scheme aimed at reducing harm caused by welfare fuelled alcohol, gambling and drug misuse.
"This is a bit controversial, we know that, but the cash debt card is not punitive,:" Mr McCormack said.
He said trials of the card have helped to reduce harm from alcohol and drugs while at the same time encouraging recipients personal responsibility of their financial management.
Australian Associated Press
