The higher costs associated with living in remote and rural areas is well documented. This impacts on people’s standard of living, their ability to access services and maintain their health and wellbeing. Additional costs across a wide range of basic necessities are evident including: food, clothing, household goods, transport (for work, shopping, leisure and accessing services), housing and household fuel bills. An inquiry into accessible healthcare must fully consider how these factors are inextricably linked. Whilst the local environment in remote and rural areas is often conducive to wellbeing, access to limited services to support healthy lifestyle, poverty and social isolation are all relevant/ contributing factors.
People in remote rural areas should not be penalised financially, healthwise, or any other way for not living in an urban area.
This content is created by the open source Your Priorities citizen engagement platform designed by the non profit Citizens Foundation