THERE will be $1 million spent in Armidale and Moree to upgrade hospital and health facilities.

The funding comes from the NSW Government’s Regional Health Works Program and there will be five projects:

$250,000 to upgrade Armidale Hospital’s staff accommodation for junior medical officers;

$250,000 to be spent on upgrading Armidale Hospital’s off-site staff accommodation at Rusden House;

$210,000 will be used at the Armidale Rehabilitation Service to refurbish the kitchen area which enables patients to practice everyday skills to help them return to living at home sooner;

$75,000 for an emergency decontamination shower room upgrade at Armidale Hospital; and

$250,000 to complete an upgrade to Moree Hospital’s staff accommodation, including refurbishment of the building’s first floor and new ensuites for bedrooms.

Having money put towards healthcare is a step in the right direction.

But the work isn’t done and I will continue to fight for more funding for better healthcare.

NSW Parliamentary Committee to consider splitting Hunter New England Health

The public will have the opportunity to have input on a proposal to split Hunter New England Health.

The Health Services Amendment (Splitting of the Hunter New England Health District) Bill 2025 aims to dissolve the current Hunter New England Local Health District to establish two new districts.

This will create the Hunter Local Health District and the New England Northwest Local Health District.

The Bill has been referred to the Legislative Assembly Committee on Community Services.

This means the wider Hunter and New England communities will be able to have their say on the proposed changes.

I will let the public know when further details are released and submissions open.

Youth crime ePetition

Youth crime has dominated community concerns in recent weeks.

It is time for the NSW Government to start listening to people on the ground. They should be focusing on protecting the community and innocent victims of crime.

Those of us in rural towns deserve to feel safe. Enough is enough.

There’s an ePetition on the NSW Parliament website to change the Young Offenders Act.

It needs 20,000 signatures to be debated in Parliament so please jump online to add your name to the ePetition HERE.

Brendan Moylan last week caught up with Glen Innes Show’s Young Woman of the Year Emily Burton.

Show Season

The Glen Innes Show was a fantastic success at the weekend. It went over Friday, Saturday and Sunday and was a great demonstration of what makes living in regional and rural NSW so special.

The annual Guyra Show continues Saturday, February 22 and I encourage everyone to get along and support this important event.

Local shows are so vital for small towns and bring people together in all different aspects, whether it is to enjoy to the livestock competitions, shearing, the rides, food, arts and crafts or just to get together with mates.

Shows keep traditions alive and bring the community together.

They are also great for the local economy and the Guyra show is a fantastic annual event. I hope it is a huge success.

Parliament sittings

I have been back at Parliament this week for the second week of sittings for 2025, and it has certainly been busy. The final day of sittings didn’t finish until 4.30am!

This week I delivered Community Recognition Statements on Crooble’s Quast family, Glen Innes’ Cave family, Armidale artist Isabelle Devos, Guyra’s Lamb and Potato Festival, Armidale scientist Annette Cowie, Bellata’s Glenn and Rachel Fernance, the Armidale Housed Ram Show and Sale, Deepwater Jockey Club and the Moree Gift Barrel.

I delivered a Notice of Motion on crime and called the Minns Labor Government to engage in significant legislative reform.

I tabled Questions On Notice on suicide among police officers, controlling the harissa cactus weed, the number of domestic violence-related assaults, break-and-enter incidents, malicious-damage-to-property incidents, the reduction of flights to and from the region, organisations missing out on the Local Small Commitments Allocation Program, the Moree Hospital redevelopment, and the Glen Innes Hospital redevelopment.

Service NSW mobile centres

Service NSW is bringing their mobile service centres to Uralla and Guyra on 11 March.

In Guyra, they will be set up at the public car park at 119 Bradley Street on from 9am until 12pm.

Then it will be in Uralla at Apex Memorial Park 55 Bridge Street from 1.30pm until 4pm.

NSW Seniors Festival Local Achievement Awards

Nominate an outstanding older person in their community with nominations for the 2025 NSW Seniors Festival Local Achievement Awards. Nominations for Local Achievement Awards can be made by completing the nomination form and returning to the Armidale or Moree electorate offices.

The form is available online at www.brendanmoylan.com.au or collect a printed copy from the Armidale or Moree electorate offices.

Nominations close February 28 and recipients will be announced during the NSW Seniors Festival.

For more information about NSW Seniors Festival and the Local Achievement Awards, visit www.seniorsfestival.nsw.gov.au

Commentary by Brendan Moylan, Member for Northern Tablelands