That’s the view of Fairfax Media editors in regional, rural and suburban Australia when asked to nominate the most important election issues in their area. 

Regional seats will play a key role in Saturday’s poll.

Results in electorates like New England, where Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce faces ex-MP Tony Windsor, and Indi, where former Liberal minister Sophie Mirabella seeks the seat she lost to independent Cathy McGowan, plus the rise of South Australia’s Nick Xenaphon, will have national implications.

More than 50 editors from Fairfax’s Australian Community Media division – with newspapers and websites in every state and territory and a combined print and digital audience of more than 5 million –  were asked to select the three issues most likely to shape how local people voted in their readership area.

Health emerged as the top concern (18.3 per cent), followed by economic management and job creation (15 per cent), communications, mobile phone coverage and internet access (15 per cent) and education (9.8 per cent).

Health

Kerrie O’Connor, editor of the Bay Post on the NSW south coast said, regional areas were “behind the eight-­ball in health, education and communication”.

“We need the first to live well, the second to do well and the third to tell the world about it,” she said. Lower incomes made bulk-billing a necessity. “If the freeze on the Medicare rebate continues, and doctors abandon bulk-billing, it will be felt.”

In Tasmania, The Examiner’s Simon Tennant  said staffing issues at  Launceston General Hospital's emergency department had put health funding in sharp focus.

Kate Hedley, of Western Australia’s Mandurah Mail, said her region did not have enough youth mental health services to cope with the number of teens in distress.

The NBN

“We need it done properly, and now,” said Fiona Ferguson, editor of Tamworth’s Northern Daily Leader.

In Victoria, Luke Horton of the Wimmera Mail-Times said the NBN roll-out had “slowed to a snail's pace, while governance changes at Australia Post mean that people can wait weeks to receive a letter from their next-door neighbour”.

Newcastle Herald editor Heath Harrison said diversifying regional economies needed the “the sort of high-­tech infrastructure that allows emerging cities to break free of old constraints”.

Economy & Jobs

Echoing the concerns of many regional editors, Christian Knight of the Macleay Argus said youth unemployment was at crisis levels on the NSW north coast: “In some centres we have a “lost generation” of 20-­40 years olds who leave to find work”.

Said Nicole Ferrie, editor of  the Bendigo Advertiser: “We don't want short-term solutions, we need policies that will work with various industries to create growth and opportunity”.

These are the polling places in the Yass Valley and all ten will be open from 8am to 6pm on Saturday, July 2, 2016 and all provide assisted access for wheelchairs.

Binalong

Binalong Public School, Dickinson Street

Bookham

Soldiers Memorial Hall. 

Bowning

Bowning Community Hall, Short Street

Gundaroo

Gundaroo Public School, Lot Street

Murrumbateman

Murrumbateman Recreation Grounds Hall, Barton Highway

Sutton

Sutton Public School, Victoria Street

Wallaroo

Wattle Park Sunday School Hall, Barton Highway

Wee Jasper

Wee Jasper Memorial Hall, 6426 Wee Jasper Road

Yass

Yass High School, Grampian Street

Yass

Yass Memorial Hall, Comur Street