Indi MP Cathy McGowan told federal Parliament this week there needed to be a “clear vision” for a decentralised country.

Ms McGowan made the comments while speaking on the Albury-Wodonga Development Corporation (Abolition) Bill.

She said she wanted to see a regional Australia linked “by excellent transport infrastructure, both rail and road” and better access to mobile phones and telecommunications coverage.

Ms McGowan said government needed policies that ensured the educational outcomes of regional Australians were “equal to those of our city cousins and that we have strong regional employment opportunities powered by innovation and creativity”.

“In the 1970s, it was Gough and Malcolm,” she said.

“Today, can Bill and Tony and Albo and Warren and Barnaby do in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 what our ancestors did in the 1970s?

“Or will it take more Cathys, Tonys, Robs, Andrews, Rickys and Johns to be elected as independents for the serious wake-up call to be heard?”

Ms McGowan said the Albury-Wodonga experiment was a pilot scheme “that was extended to influence urban settlement patterns right around Australia”.

“It was a brave attempt to solve a long-standing problem,” she said.

“I would like to acknowledge all the good work done by key stakeholders and individuals in the life and deeds of the corporation.

“Also as a Parliament, we must talk about how we can continue the grand vision of those parliamentarians of the 1970s.”

Ms McGowan said she was not convinced there was clarity on the way forward.

“Many of the reasons for this most visionary intervention by government still exist,” she said.

“Our border anomalies are too many to mention.

“The NSW government, to its credit, has employed a commissioner to address these anomalies.

“I believe it is time for the Victorian and Commonwealth governments to consider matching this appointment.”