Hancock Prospecting, Woolworths and Toyota Australia have renewed their support for News Australia’s 2026 National Bush Summit, which will be held in Dubbo on August 27.
Hancock Prospecting and S. Kidman & Co will return as National Presenting Partner for the fourth consecutive year. Woolworths has again signed on as the naming rights sponsor of the Bush Champions awards program, while Toyota Australia will support the Bush Summit Road Trip.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to attend the Summit alongside state and territory leaders. The event brings together policymakers, business leaders and community representatives to discuss issues affecting regional and rural Australia.
News Corp Australasia Executive Chairman Michael Miller said the return to Dubbo, which hosted the inaugural Bush Summit in 2019, marked a significant milestone for the event.
Miller said the ongoing support from Hancock Prospecting, Woolworths and Toyota Australia reflected the role the Summit plays in bringing issues affecting regional communities into national discussions.
“Returning to Dubbo, where the very first Bush Summit was held in 2019 with the Prime Minister and senior leaders present, is an important moment for regional Australia,” he said.
Miller said the Summit continued to provide a platform for conversations affecting regional Australia to be heard by government and industry leaders.
Michael Miller
Hancock Prospecting and S. Kidman Executive Chairman Gina Rinehart said the event provided an opportunity to highlight challenges facing regional and rural communities, including rising costs and regulatory pressures.
“The Bush Summit is important because our fantastic farmers and pastoralists, and regional Australians are truly struggling with rising taxes, endless government tape and bad energy policies that are driving up costs and destroying prime farm land and making it harder and harder to provide for their families, invest, employ, and survive,” she said.
Bush Champions nominations open
Nominations have opened for the Woolworths Bush Champions awards, which recognise regional Australians across three categories: Young Champion, Agricultural Champion and Community Champion. Winners will be announced at the Bush Summit dinner in Dubbo on August 26.
Toyota supports road trip
Toyota Australia will support the National Bush Summit Road Trip, which will see News Australia cartoonist Warren Brown and senior journalist Patrick Carlyon travel through regional communities ahead of the event in a Toyota HiLux.
Their reporting will be published across News Australia platforms in the lead-up to the Summit.
News Australia has also launched its Have Your Say survey, inviting Australians to provide feedback on issues affecting regional and rural communities. The survey is running across News Australia’s state and community mastheads.
Sky News Australia returns as broadcast partner
Sky News Australia will again serve as the broadcast partner for the Summit. Coverage will include a weekly regional segment ahead of the event, with the Summit broadcast live across Sky News, Sky News Extra and Sky News Regional, and streamed online on August 27.