With the call by Donald Trump to bring manufacturing back into America, it is perhaps time we in Australia should also be looking to see what we can do to.

Free trade agreements sound wonderful but they are not usually what the person in the street thinks they are as we face tariffs, quotas, and foreign government subsidies when we wish to enter foreign markets.

I have been involved in the food manufacturing industry for over 30 years and, obviously, this industry will continue, however the loss of the car manufacturing industry is one we should not have lost.

It is my belief that we could still have a car manufacturing industry but scaled down from three to one manufacturer.

It will ensure that it is a truly Australian vehicle range.

I realise the concept is controversial but believe that greater minds than mine could be employed to raise the industry again like a phoenix rises from the ashes.

IT’S HEARTENING to read recent articles about the rural prosperity of our nation and the way agriculture is driving growth in many regional towns and communities.

However, it should be recognised that there is a two speed economy developing in our agricultural regions, as many once prosperous areas are struggling under the burden of ill-conceived and poorly implemented water policy.

This has been highlighted by various reports, including the 2016 Murray-Darling Basin Authority Northern Review and the Goulburn-Murray region report, which predicted job losses of up to 2000 in that region alone under the basin plan.

We presently have a unique opportunity to transition Australia from the mining boom to the dining boom, but we will only reach our economic potential if Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and his colleagues show the necessary political courage to support adjustments to the basin plan that will ensure it cares for the environment, as well as basin communities.

So far Mr Turnbull has lacked understanding of the plan’s impacts on jobs and the economy, as well as compassion for Australians who are unnecessary collateral damage from a plan that is not delivering the “triple bottom line” goals of achieving environmental, social and economic outcomes.

I appreciate this is a complex area, and there are generally many issues considered more important that the PM and others have to focus on.

But if Mr Turnbull and others would take the time to visit the Murray region of NSW, they would see delivering proposed flows under the basin plan is simply not possible without flooding private land and therefore destroying crops, jobs and prosperity.

If we are to be a smart and innovative nation, we must get a few of the basics right, including water policy.

With a smarter and more innovative approach, we will be able to achieve environmental outcomes without sacrificing rural jobs and livelihoods.

The question is: Do we have the political courage and willpower?

Driving in Wagga on January 4, a person was on the side of the road waiting to cross with a dog on a lead.

It was very hot and the dog was rapidly changing foot to foot because of the hot road surface.

All people walking dogs should take the heat into consideration as the dog doesn’t have shoes on like the walker.

Show some compassion.