ABSTRACT
People living in rural and regional areas frequently feel that their perspectives and interests are neither understood nor valued by central policymakers or decision-makers. Protests are manifestations of the dissatisfaction with policies or decisions, such as those that occurred in 2010 with the release of the Murray–Darling Basin Authority’s Guide to the proposed Basin Plan and in 2008 against the construction of the Victorian North-South pipeline. In an era of constant change, whether due to climate variability, government-initiated policy reform or changing market conditions, communities in many rural areas are facing an uncertain future. With food security an additional major global concern there are many reasons why agriculture and the future of rural and regional Australia should be high on the list of ‘big issues’ for the future of the country. A major challenge for decision-makers is in gaining acceptance for their decisions by those directly affected by policy reforms, particularly where people feel that they are disadvantaged and that their issues and concerns have not been understood.
