Albanese, Taylor and premiers converge on Dubbo for Bush Summit

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Opposition Leader Angus Taylor and a group of state leaders will descend on Dubbo as News Corp Australia launches its 2026 National Bush Summit.

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The two-day event begins on Wednesday, 26 August, under the theme Build the Bush, Back the Future. It will focus on the economic and social pressures facing regional Australia.

Political leaders put regional issues on the agenda

Albanese and Taylor will both address the summit, alongside Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Julie Collins. New South Wales Premier Chris Minns, South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas and Western Australian Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti will take part in a roundtable.

Nationals Leader Matt Canavan, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce are also on the program.

Sessions will cover agriculture and food security, energy, housing, infrastructure, innovation, health, tourism and regional jobs. News Australia said its Have Your Say reader survey and Mood of the Bush research identified cost of living, crime, roads and transport among regional communities’ biggest concerns.

News Australia National Advocacy Director John Lehmann said bringing senior political and business figures together could help elevate those issues.

“Having the Prime Minister, the Opposition Leader, state premiers and industry leaders all in Dubbo sends a clear message. The issues facing regional communities should be addressed at every level of government. This Summit puts the people who can act on those issues in the same room as representatives from the communities affected by them.”

News Corp draws major brands to Dubbo

The summit has also secured a significant roster of commercial partners. Hancock Prospecting returns as presenting partner for a fourth consecutive year.

Major partners include Woolworths, Ampol, AAMI, Toyota, Qantas, Powerhouse Museum and Clubs NSW. Other supporters include the South Australian and Northern Territory governments, Charles Sturt University and Dubbo Regional Council.

The program opens with the Kids in the Bush Lunch, which will examine mental health and youth issues outside Australia’s major cities. The National Bush Summit Dinner will follow on Wednesday night.

The dinner will also host the Woolworths Bush Champions Awards, recognising achievement across regional Australia.

News Corp expands the summit beyond the stage

An activation hub will operate across both days and feature more than 20 regional industries, producers and organisations. The Royal Flying Doctor Service, a News Corp Australia community partner, will be among those represented.

The summit will conclude on Thursday afternoon with a Greyhound Racing NSW event at the Dubbo Greyhound Racing Club.

News Corp Australia will stream the Bush Summit live through News24 World and News24.com.au. Coverage will also run across News24 Regional and mastheads including The Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun, The Courier-Mail, The Advertiser, NT News and The Weekly Times.