Move FM Regional news

INVERELL, NSW, Australia – NSW Nationals leader John Barilaro has told the Liberal Party, the city should not be prioritised over rural regions when it comes to investment.

Mr Barilaro addressed this at the Nationals state conference in Inverell on Friday, insisting it is not acceptable for regional NSW to receive only 30% of asset sales.

On Friday he told 2GB’s Ray Hadley program which is heard on 2LT, it’s time to take a stand for rural investment.

“I’ve got the opportunity to draw the line in the sand… I’m not happy just to accept the crumbs for the regions.”

“I want to make sure that we don’t get traded on policy that might appease our moderates in the city,” he said.

Barilaro said he wanted to make it clear that the Nationals are separate to the Liberal Party and says Gladys Berejiklian was not forewarned of his speech.

“To do that would mean that I am somehow subservient. We are a standalone party,” he said.

Hadley gave Lithgow a number of plugs on Friday as he continued to get behind the restoration of the Zig Zag Railway, which he also spoke to John Barilaro about. The Nationals leader gave a wrap to his deputy, and Member for Bathurst Paul Toole for his part in getting the government behind the re-opening of the Zig Zag railway. Late last month Toole arranged for an additional $150,000 in funding to make repairs to the viaducts, tunnels and culverts around the railway. This is in addition to the $2.3 million the local member won in November last year. On Friday Ray Hadley also spoke on-air to Zig Zag Railway Co-operative Chairman Lee Wiggins, and vowed to continue plugging the railway.