ARMIDALE rural maternal health advocate Jen Laurie has started a Parliamentary ePetition to address the decline in maternity services in rural and regional NSW.

There has been a huge number of closures to maternity services and Ms Laurie is asking the NSW Government to act.

Bundled Funding for Maternity Care: We urge the Government to allocate bundled funding across all maternity settings and care providers to promote equity in funding and service delivery, ensuring all women have access to quality maternity care, regardless of location.

Advisory Group on Rural Health: We request the establishment of an advisory group to evaluate and monitor the outstanding recommendations from the Rural Health Inquiry, with a particular focus on the ongoing erosion of maternity services in rural, regional, and remote areas. This should include both public and private providers.

Investigation into Maternity Services: We call for an enquiry into the decline of rural and remote maternity services, including a review of how and where data is collected. This review should aim to improve transparency and inform policy decisions.

Consumer Satisfaction and Autonomy: We ask for an evaluation of consumer satisfaction with current maternity services, with a focus on mothers’ autonomy in decision-making and respect, as outlined in the Women-Centred Care Strategy. The Mothers’ Autonomy in Decision Making and “Mothers’ Respect Index” should be incorporated to ensure services align with these principles.

The ePetition needs 20,000 signatures to be debated in Parliament.

You can sign here: Maternity Services ePetition

Rural maternal health advocate Jen Laurie was in Parliament this week speaking to MPs about the decline in maternity services in regional and rural NSW.

Funding for the Northern Tablelands

The Local Small Commitments Allocation program will provide up to $400,000 in funding across the Northern Tablelands.

The LSCA program provides benefits to local communities through a range of events, services and programs, playground and park upgrades, and more.

This week we revealed Armidale’s Curtis Park will soon be home to a mobile café thanks to a $140,000 grant from the LSCA program.

Congratulations to Armidale Regional Council for securing this funding.

Show Season

Bingara Show was at the weekend, and it was a huge success. The first Bingara Show began in 1931 and has been a success ever since. Congratulations to the Show committee for yet another great event! Moree Show is the next on the Northern Tablelands’ Show calendar on 25 and 26 of April.

Parliament sittings

I was back in Parliament this week for the second week of the March sittings.

This week I delivered Community Recognition Statements on Signor Vertelli of Armidale, Moree’s Atkins family, Guyra United Hospital Auxiliary, Matt Foster, Jimmy Tanner, Glen Innes Masonic Lodge celebrating 150 years, Moree’s Sylvia Broderick, Guyra’s Got Talent, Guyra Fleece and Fibre Frolic, UNE Museum of Antiquities, and Rugby League Abcare Western Challenge.

I delivered Questions on Notice on Tresillian Family Care Centre in Armidale, programs and services are currently being funded by the NSW Government in local government areas, NSW Rural Fire Services Assets, the sale of illegal vapes and illegal tobacco, the Oaky Dam project in Armidale, funding to stop the spread of the harissia cactus and feral animals, paramedic rosters, magistrate numbers, and maternity care in regional NSW.

I did this week’s Private Members’ Statement on Paramedic rosters in the Northern Tablelands.

I also spoke in the Regional Crime Debate and on the petition to support better health services at Wee Waa Hospital.

Volunteer of the Year Awards

Nominations for the NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards are open.

The awards are hosted by the NSW Centre for Volunteering and are aimed at recognising the dedication, effort and community service of the state’s volunteers.

There are seven categories for different age groups, leaders and teams.

Visit www.volunteering.com.au/awards/about-the-awards

Hunter New England Health Bill submissions open

Submissions are now open for the inquiry into the Health Services Amendment (Splitting of the Hunter New England Health District) Bill 2025.

The proposed Bill aims to dissolve the current Hunter New England Local Health District to establish two new districts – Hunter Local Health District and the New England Northwest Local Health District.

I want to advocate better healthcare outcomes because the New England and Northwest regions are the ones who are crying out for better healthcare services.

The inquiry allows the public to have input into the future of healthcare within the Hunter and New England regions.

To make a submission, visit the inquiry webpage.

Justice of the Peace

There’s a number of JPs throughout the Northern Tablelands.

Please visit the JP register and search via postcode to find one near you.

Please note, the Armidale, Moree and Inverell Electorate Offices don’t have a registered JP.

Service NSW mobile centres

Service NSW is being their mobile service centre to Toomelah, Mungindi and Boggabilla.

The mobile service centre can help with driver knowledge tests, drivers licence applications and renewals, working with children check, birth, death and marriage certificates, and more.

The mobile service centre will be at Toomelah from 9am until 11am on Tuesday, 8 April at the Community Centre.

Then they will be at Boggabilla’s Community Health Centre, 74 Merriwa Street from 12pm until 3pm on April 8.

The mobile service centre will be at Barwon River Park on 155 George Street, Mungindi on Wednesday, April 9 from 10am until 3pm.

Commentary by Brendan Moylan, Member for Northern Tablelands