Following last year's flooding and outbreaks of animal diseases, the Prime Minister asked Stuart Burgess, our chair and the Government's Rural Advocate, to advise on how rural economies could be strengthened.

His advice supports the shift in focus from economic sectors to sustainable places; regions and localities need to be empowered to build on their particular strengths.

This summary report describes the huge contribution rural areas make to the national economy and proposes some substantive and innovative ways further potential can be released.

Download the full report