"Stop blaming and pointing the finger at the messenger."
Regional economies needed reconsidering because the traditional manufacturing, forestry and agriculture had been hit hard.
"The industries that have served our historical success are the same ones that are creating job losses. When your (economies) concentrate on one or two things, when things change, it hurts like hell. The future opportunities of jobs might come from very different places."
No more people were employed in agriculture than there were a century ago.
"The kind of jobs that were available no longer exist. We firmly believe we are an agricultural nation, and it's true, but if you think about jobs, not so much."
He also said there had been no rural population growth for a century and urbanisation could not be stopped.
"The reason why we are moving to those places (cities) is that's where the opportunities are."
Education, where there was also inequality, needed to be the future focus.
Some regions needed to admit they were in population decline and plan accordingly.
"We are running out of time. Young people are voting with their feet. None of our policies deal with decline. All plans are geared for growth."
Population decline didn't mean there could not be prosperity. "It means we need to think differently. Pick the things that you can win and do very, very well at those things."