"The government is not reacting in a careful strategic way. It's just responding to the most recent event or the most recent provocation."

The Prime Minister Scott Morrison has sympathised with farmers trying to get seasonal harvest labour.

Comment: Former leader of the Nationals in the Senate, Ron Boswell AO reflects on some key moments with the late Doug Anthony.

The proposal would see agriculture workers fly into a regional hub on direct charter flights to serve their 14-day quarantine, but needs federal government support.

Dan Tehan has a big challenge as our new trade minister to restore our badly fractured relationship with China.

"The Premier cannot accept that this is business as usual for the town of Kalbarri and the regions."

Trade uncertainty and climate change will hang over the agriculture industry like two storm clouds this year, but both have significant silver linings.

Former sports minister Bridget McKenzie will face a Senate committee in February over her involvement in the sports rorts scandal.

Mary-Anne Thomas grew up in the country, and knows about long bus rides to school and how to bag a slaughtered animal.

Bold tax reforms are needed to lure more businesses to the bush and capitalise on the boom in working-from-home tree-changers many regional areas are experiencing.