ONE of the 24 motions to be put to the 2014 NSW Young Nationals Conference in Dubbo this weekend calls for the federal government to honour the six-year Gonski funding agreement between the Commonwealth and the NSW government because it would "work to close the gap between rural and metropolitan students".
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Other motions seek the rescinding of "one punch" assaults legislation, expanding of the land tax base to allow for the abolishing of stamp duty on established residential dwellings, and the relocation of the NSW Parliament to a regional city.
More than 70 members of the NSW Young Nationals will converge on Dubbo today for the annual conference that serves as a springboard for new and improved National Party policy at state and federal level.
At the Young Nationals' 2013 conference a motion was passed in support of all Australians being registered as organ donors, with those unwilling to do so able to "opt-out".
"We always have a bit of fun taking one or two controversial motions to the senior party and last year we gained the support of both the state and federal senior party for opt-out organ donations," state chairwoman of the NSW Young Nationals Felicity Walker, from Gunnedah, said.
"At a state level, another 15 motions originating at our conference became senior party policy. This is a huge achievement."
Ms Walker said the growing ranks of the NSW Young Nationals came together each year for "open discussion on issues ranging from tertiary access to road infrastructure, regional health to youth unemployment, agriculture to childcare and everything in between".
"We also have a big focus on Indigenous affairs and regional health this year and will be hearing from the Clontarf Foundation's Brendan Maher about the work they are doing in regional communities and from federal Assistant Minister for Health, Senator Fiona Nash," Ms Walker said.
Motions to be debated at the Dubbo conference call for ultrasound equipment in smaller regional hospitals and the implantation of strategies to support the mental and physical well-being of nurses.
The conference in Dubbo, secured by State Member for Dubbo Troy Grant, begins this afternoon with "canapes and a zoofari" at Taronga Western Plains Zoo.
"In addition to the serious side of events, we make sure there are plenty of fun and educational activities for members too," Ms Walker said.
"This year we will again be holding our annual debates between competing regions and will host a dinner at the Old Dubbo Gaol.
"I have no doubt this year's conference will be the best we've had so far."
A bus carrying Young Nationals will leave Sydney this morning and return on Sunday afternoon after the conference winds up at TWPZ's Savannah Room.
Mr Grant and federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton will oversee "question time" at the conference tomorrow.