It’s been a busy week in the electorate with plenty of kilometres travelled!

I have managed to have meetings and attend community events in Guyra, Armidale, Emmaville, Glen Innes, Uralla, Walcha, Moree, Inverell and Warialda.

Funding for the Northern Tablelands

Up to $400,000 for our electorate has been secured from The Local Small Commitments Allocation program.

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

This week I announced Uralla’s Sunny Jim Mackay Park has received a $28,000 grant to build a new shade sail over the park’s gym equipment.

Glen Innes Severn Council also received $44,000 to upgrade one of the two picnic shelters at Centennial Parklands.

Walcha Council has received $16,000 funding for the installation of soft-fall at Quota Park.

These announcements are in addition to the recent grants at Biniguy and Delungra.

Bush Babies maternity services campaign

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

The ePetition needs 20,000 signatures to be debated in Parliament. It is currently sitting at around 1400 so we need a lot more.

You can sign the ePetition at www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/la/pages/epetitions-list.aspx and sign under ‘The Bush Babies Campaign’.

During the last sittings I also filed a Notice of Motion in relation to Maternity Services in regional NSW which will hopefully come up for debate in the May or June sittings of Parliament.

Report from the Select Committee on Remote, Rural and Regional Health

Last week the Select Committee on Remote, Rural and Regional Health handed down their second report on the progress made on the recommendations made in the 2022 Portfolio Committee No. 2 (PC2) report on the delivery of specific health services and specialist care in remote, rural and regional NSW.

The original 2022 report set out to focus on disparities in health outcomes and access to services between metropolitan and remote, rural and regional communities in NSW.

NSW Health has reported some progress from the 2022 report, but the recent findings clearly indicate that most of the recommendations remain unfulfilled. I will continue to advocate for better health care in Parliament and this report clearly demonstrates there is a lot of work for the Government to do.

The full report can be viewed HERE.

School holiday activities

With Term 1 school holidays on the horizon my team and I have been keeping an eye out for organised kids’ activities in the electorate. Currently there are planned activities in Armidale, Inverell, and Emmaville with hopefully more locations and activities to be announced in the coming week or so.

To view the organised school holiday activities in the New England North West region and to register your children, visit www.nsw.gov.au/regional-nsw/holiday-fun-for-regional-youth/new-england-north-west-holiday-break-activities.

Primary industries seeking feedback on workforce issues

Stakeholders are invited to give feedback on a strategy to strengthen NSW’s primary industries workforce.

To participate in the feedback, visit www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/primary-industries-Workforce-Strategy

Transgrid’s 2025 Community Partnerships Program

Not-for-profit organisations from the 2350, 2370, 2371 and 2360 postcodes are invited to apply for up to $5000 in funding as part of Transgrid’s 2025 Community Partnerships Program.

The grants are aimed at a range of initiatives spanning from community infrastructure to workshops, along with inclusivity and accessibility projects.

For more information or to apply visit www.transgrid.com.au/community/community-partnerships-program/

Federal election

The Federal Election has been called for  May 3.

Just a reminder that as the local State Member my role focuses on state issues while federal elections are managed at the national level.

For any questions related to federal elections – voting, changing address, early voting, etc, I recommend reaching out to the Australian Electoral Commission (www.aec.gov.au or phone 13 23 26).

The Welcome Experience

The Welcome Experience is a free service supporting eligible essential workers and their families to make the move the regional NSW.

Local Connectors can help you with the life stuff, everything from the practicalities of finding housing, choosing childcare, exploring job opportunities for partners or even introducing you to your neighbours!

Government employees of the following NSW agencies are eligible:

Corrective Services NSW

Department of Communities & Justice

Fire & Rescue NSW

NSW Ambulance

NSW Department of Education

NSW Health

NSW Police Force

NSW Rural Fire Service

Non-government employees in the following industries are eligible:

Aged care

Disability support

Early childhood education

Education

Health

Veterinary services.

For more information visit www.nsw.gov.au/regional-nsw/makethemove/welcome-experience

Commentary by Brendan Moylan, member for Northern Tablelands