REGIONAL concerns about missing out on its slice of the pie are a perennial issue in politics.
Many of the gripes from the bush are fair. Recent calls for a freeze on the fuel excise are a case in point.
The rising price in petrol is delivering a windfall to the Federal Government through a tax which is adding to burden of those who need fuel to run their businesses, both in the city and regional areas.
That the extra revenue is flowing in alongside increased tax collections from the complicated GST arrangements makes it all the harder to bear – particularly from a conservative Government.
But these are not just issues for the bush. The same things affect people operating businesses in the city, and many of them wonder why people in the regions seem to bleat so often about being a special case.
Perhaps politics lies at the heart of the issue. Rather than fixing the problems which are of concern to every Australian, politicians of all creeds seem to promote a tit for tat contest between the city and bush.
Even worse, we fall for it.