"This is the third consecutive redistribution of state electorate boundaries that has resulted in a seat in parliament being 'stolen' out of regional NSW and

transferred into the Sydney

basin.

"This is clearly unsustainable," Mr Turner said.

"With each redistribution the already unmanageable western seats of Murray Darling and Barwon become geographically bigger as they move further eastwards to achieve their legal quota of voters.

"Do we as residents, taxpayers and voters wait until these two seats engulf the entire area west of the Great Dividing Range, or do we put initiatives and policies in place before it is too late?" Mr Turner said.

"Both the State and Federal Governments must develop policies and visions to ensure that the continuing population imbalance between Sydney and country NSW is turned around.

"Bold incentives, infrastructure development and job creation must occur if we are not only to retain our young people but also attract families out of Sydney and other metropolitan areas.

"A multi-million dollar State Government funded advertising campaign promoting country lifestyle qualities in the Sydney media and cash incentives for young families are just two initiatives that I believe should be encouraged.

"Vague promises and rhetoric have all failed in the past to correct disproportionate population growth throughout NSW.

"The NSW Nationals will have positive policies with future vision in place before the 2007 state election to ensure this imbalance is corrected and turned in a positive way for regional NSW," Mr Turner concluded.