THE late Jan Sharman OAM was a much-revered member of the Glen Innes community and her legacy to the town was commemorated with a permanent bench in her honour outside of Glen Innes Hospital.

Ms Sharman served her community in various ways for more than 50 years including as part of the Glen Innes Hospital Auxiliary, Holy Trinity Anglican Church Parish Council, as an elected councillor to the former Glen Innes Council, as a nurse, cooking for school events, fundraising and plenty more.

As a tribute to Ms Sharman, who died last year, the auxiliary purchased the seat for people to use if they have difficulty walking to the hospital.

I was very grateful to be invited to the unveiling of the permanent bench outside of Glen Innes Hospital to honour such a deeply valued member of the community.

Ms Sharman’s achievements are also etched into history through Hansard, the official written record of proceedings in NSW Parliament.

Celtic Festival

I attended the opening of the Australian Celtic Festival last Friday.

It is a unique and special event and brings together people from all over the country.

The Festival is in its 33rd year and the focus in 2025 is on the Celtic nations of Brittany, Cornwall Wales.

Congratulations to the organisers and everyone involved in yet another great event.

Water testing in Warialda

Voluntary testing for per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has been undertaken at 20 properties around Warialda.

Two of those properties saw levels above current and draft proposed drinking water guidelines, three properties indicated levels were above proposed drinking water guidelines, and six saw levels within acceptable limits. But none of those properties used the water supplies for drinking.

All 20 properties received their results and received precautionary advice where needed. NSW Health advises against using untreated bore water for drinking or hygiene. A community drop-in session will be held on Monday, 13 May, at the council chambers with further bore testing offered later in the month. Keep an eye out for further details.

Inquiry into illegal tobacco trade

The NSW Government has finally answered calls to launch a parliamentary inquiry into the fast-growing illegal tobacco trade. It is something I have been pushing the government for.

A parliamentary inquiry into illegal tobacco trade has been established and referred to the Legislative Council Committee on Justice and Communities.

Data from NSW Health shows a huge rise in the number of tobacconists across NSW; from 14,500 four years ago to 19,500 today (nearly 35 per cent).

These illegal operations particularly affect regional and rural areas, like the Northern Tablelands, where there are limited resources to conduct compliance checks and they are being sold to young people.

Illegal tobacco trade has also been linked with an increase in crime across New South Wales.

The inquiry will force the government to look at the impact of the tobacco trade on small businesses and communities and the failures to address the sale of illegal and counterfeit cigarettes.

Doli incapax review

Our communities in regional and rural New South Wales are exhausted by serious crimes committed by young people.

The continual reliance by offenders on the doctrine of doli incapax hurts our communities, frustrates our police, and ultimately hurts young offenders as it contributes to a continuous cycle of reoffending.

I have been urging the NSW Government to conduct a review into doli incapax laws since joining Parliament in 2024 to ensure the community is protected and also to ensure young offenders are not simply released by the Courts without any intervention or assistance to stop them sliding into a cycle of crime.

Doli incapax is a common law legal presumption that children between the ages of 10 and 14 do not sufficiently understand the difference between right and wrong and therefore cannot be held criminally responsible in New South Wales.

It means the police prosecution is required to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the child, at the time of doing the act, knew it was seriously wrong as a matter of morality, or according to the ordinary principles of reasonable persons and not merely naughty or mischievous.

On Tuesday, NSW Attorney General Michael Daley announced a review into doli incapax would be conducted by former Supreme Court Justice, the Honourable Geoffrey Bellew SC, and former NSW Police Deputy Commissioner, Mr Jeffrey Loy.

This has been a long-time coming and a constructive step in addressing youth crime.

Funding to combat invasive weed species

I have been advocating for more action from the NSW Government to stop the spread of harrisia cactus and tropical soda apple.

The harrisia cactus is becoming an increasing problem in the areas of Croppa Creek, North Star and Boggabilla and has choked out a large amount of valuable agricultural land while the tropical soda apple is a big problem in the Macleay Valley, which borders the Northern Tablelands, and is moving from the riparian areas onto private land at a rapid rate.

Both species of weeds are particularly aggressive and produce large amounts of seeds which are easily spread by birds and other animals. They have decimated valuable farmland and farmers are struggling to keep it off their land.

This week the NSW Government responded with $10 million to target high-risk weeds across the state through their Weeds Action Program.

This is a step in the right direction to protect our agricultural industries.

Parliamentary sittings

Parliament resumed this week.

I delivered Community Recognition Statements on the Quilters and Patchworkers of New England Inc, Lisztomania – Northern Tablelands favourite, the Australian Celtic Festival, the Seasons of New England Expo, Crump Stock & Station Agency, Airlie Merino Stud, Ulysses National Rally, The Armidale School Rugby Carnival, and Betts Transport.

I also delivered a Private Members’ Statement on the Northern Tablelands electorate.

My Questions On Notice were on the Moree Ambulance Station, funding for Little Wings, Working with Children Checks, the Office of Regional Youth, the Inverell Ambulance Station, turning lane into Puddledock Road, biodiversity conservation objectives, and black-market tobacco products.

Moree Hospital redevelopment update

Hutchinson Builders will deliver the project.

Next Monday will see the construction site start becoming active. This will include relocating the ambulance ramp to a temporary location.

During this time, the main public carpark will remain open and access for staff, NSW Ambulance and the public remains unchanged.

Work times will be Monday to Friday 7am to 6pm and Saturday 8am to 1pm.

There will also be meet the builder community events: Wednesday, May 21 at SHAE Academy from 12pm to 1pm and Thursday, May 22 at Social Co House from 8am to 10am.

Service NSW mobile centres

Service NSW is being their mobile service centre to Pallamallawa, Gravesend, Guyra and Uralla.

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 Moffat Park, Gwydir Highway, Gravesend on Monday, May 12 from 1pm to 3.30pm.

The mobile service centre will be at near the Pally Pub on 59 Bingera Street, Pallamallawa on Tuesday, May 13 from 10am to 3pm.

The mobile service centre will be at the Public Car Park, 119 Bradley Street Guyra on Tuesday, May 20 from 9am to 3pm.

The mobile service centre will be at Apex Memorial Park 55 Bridge Street, Uralla on Wednesday, May 21 from 9am to 3pm.

Commentary by Brendan Moylan, Member for Northern Tablelands