Farmers would only have to deal with a single federal body when it comes to low-interest loans to recover from drought and install new water facilities under a re-elected coalition government.
Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce told the National Press Club on Wednesday the new Regional Investment Corporation would administer about $4.5 billion in agriculture and water resources financing and concessional loans.
"The Commonwealth should not have to offer drought or other support through the states ... we will have a vastly more streamlined way to act," Mr Joyce said.
The states have different ways of managing cheap farm loans and the auditor-general earlier this year criticised the schemes as failing to properly analyse costs and benefits.
The agriculture minister said the corporation would seek to cover costs plus a "minor return".
Mr Joyce also announced a $100 million allocation towards sealing the remaining 1700km of the Outback Way - a 2800km route linking Laverton in Western Australia with Winton in Queensland via Alice Springs.
He was critical of Labor's approach to another major piece of infrastructure, the national broadband network.
"They talked about owning a pony - but we bought the horse, broke it, saddled it up and are now riding it," the colourful member for the regional NSW seat of New England said.
The deputy prime minister outlined a plan to boost the number of regional students going to university.
This included changes to Youth Allowance and Abstudy living allowances accessibility, scholarships for studying science and maths, a boosted boarding school allowance and a broad-ranging review of regional education.
"We cannot put a university in every regional town ... we must have the policy settings right so that people get greater access to that ticket to their own future," he said.
Mr Joyce, who has a battle on July 2 against independent Tony Windsor to retain his seat, said candidates outside the major parties served only as "commentators or a complaint box".
Asked about firebrand Pauline Hanson's chances of winning a Senate seat in Queensland, he said voters needed to consider what was in the national interest and look beyond the "fury and colour".
The Nationals will seek a fresh coalition agreement after the election if the Turnbull government is returned.
Mr Joyce declined to say what it might include.
But he said the Nationals would be pursuing the issue of an "effects test" to deal with the problem of big companies bullying small operators in certain markets.
"It's no different to the caustic actions of the large teenager in a primary school playground."
Share
