On Wednesday, 20 August 2025, the Australian Bush Summit officially opened, launching 10 days of events across multiple regional locations nationwide.
This important annual event shines a spotlight on the strengths, opportunities, and serious and increasing challenges faced by regional businesses. Each Summit location includes keynote speakers and panels designed for greater understanding of those in the bush, and to foster discussions about the future of regional Australia.
Sponsored by News Corp, and others including our partner, Hancock Prospecting and Hancock Agriculture, the Bush Summit attracts state and federal politicians. The hope is clear: that these decision-makers will listen, and also act on the key messages delivered by the regional areas they represent.
Bush Summit 2025 - Darwin - Mrs Gina Rinehart Speech Delivered By Adam Giles
Spotlight on Net Zero Targets
A major theme at this year’s Summit is the looming increasing impact of Net Zero targets on Australia’s agricultural sector. Which includes the multiple businesses that rely upon the agricultural sector. Farmers and Industry representatives are voicing concern that the current targets are unrealistic and unsustainable, putting already stretched regional businesses at risk, and forcing many off the land.
Without an urgent and truthful review of this agenda, there could be devastating outcomes — from widespread business closures to significant food price increases for consumers. As well as other farm produce, like wines, cotton, leather and manure. The alternative could mean greater reliance on imported food, produced under lower safety and quality standards than those maintained in Australia.
Examples from overseas — including the UK, Germany, Spain and France — show the severe consequences of so called renewables and climate targets, where agricultural and manufacturing industries have struggled to survive.
It’s important to note, that net zero and reducing emissions doesn’t just effect farmers , but shareholders of major mining companies, your superannuation, pensioners, veterans and everyone on lower incomes. Even the noisy ones, who also need hospitals, ambulances, emergency services, vets for their pets, funeral services, hotels, restaurants, bars , airports and more.
Gina Rinehart: A Voice for the Bush
Our Partner and prominent Australian business leader Gina Rinehart, widely appreciated as an unwavering, dedicated and brave advocate for regional Australia, has called for the removal of Net Zero restrictions in the regions. Drawing on her first-hand knowledge of the challenges facing farmers, she warns that these policies could destroy livelihoods and force Australians to accept lower-quality imported food — a major risk for the nation’s food security. She points out, net zero restrictions, will not only affect farmers, but all Australians.
At the Darwin Bush Summit event, her speech — read by Hancock Agriculture CEO Adam Giles (link below) — was met with strong support from local farmers and others present. The Ballarat Bush Summit event also made headlines when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was escorted out of town by a convoy of tractors driven by fed up farmers, a clear sign of the frustration and despair felt by many in regional communities.
