Repairs on the New England Highway in our electorate will begin next week. After the flooding on the coast of NSW last week, traffic was diverted to the New England Highway which resulted it in becoming a pothole-ridden danger zone for motorists.

I have been pushing for repairs since last week and I met with Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison in Parliament on Thursday to continue to push for urgent assistance to repair the highway. She agreed to road crews being relocated to the New England Highway to begin work next week.

Until then please drive to the conditions and be patient while the repairs are being undertaken.

Thank you to the Minister for listening.

Private Members’ Statements: Feral pigs and the Oxley Highway closures

This week I delivered two Private Members’ Statements in NSW Parliament.

The first one was on the escalating problem of feral pigs in the Northern Tablelands and the impact they are having on landholders.

The last few farming seasons have been good but this has seen the population of feral pigs explode and they are causing carnage and destruction. They are attacking livestock and destroying crops.

Unless we cull around 80 per cent of these feral animals per year, we will not get on top of the problem.

More funding is needed to adopt localised and targeted approaches to combat the rise in feral pig numbers.

My second Private Members’ Statement was on the constant closures of the Oxley Highway and the impact it is having on Walcha.

Over the last five years, landslips have resulted in closures to the Oxley Highway on numerous occasions. The effects of this are felt within Walcha businesses who rely on travellers to survive.

I have called on the NSW Government to assist the affected businesses in Walcha.

Parliamentary sittings

It has been another busy week in NSW Parliament.

I have delivered Community Recognition Statements on Patricia Elkin OAM, Millie Coupland, Inverell Eisteddfod Society, Upper Horton’s Ball In the Hall Event, Fletcher Richardson, Moray Pastoral Company, Shevaun Stait, Kai Douglass, and the Classic and Specialist Car Club of Armidale.

My Questions On Notice were on the LP Dutton Trout Hatchery, transmission line builds, housing shortages, bail accommodation and primary producer concessions.

Crime debate

The ePetition Time for Change! Young Offenders Act NSW was debated in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday.

If you want to watch the full debate, you can see it here: Watch Time for Change! Young Offenders Act NSW

Alternatively, the transcript can be viewed here: Read Time for Change! Young Offenders Act NSW

Melbourne Cup tour

Walcha has been included in the Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour. The tour gives 36 communities around Australia the chance to see the prestigious Melbourne Cup prize up close.

Last year’s Melbourne Cup-winning horse, Knight’s Choice, was bred by Walcha locals Norm and Di Bazeley at Elswick Park.

For more information on the tour, visit Melbourne Cup Tour.

Adult Migrant English Program – Armidale volunteers needed

The AMEP Volunteer Tutor Program is a sub-program of the Adult Migrant English Program. It offers informal language tuition for migrants and refugees. This tuition is provided by trained volunteers on a one-to-one basis, either online or face-to-face, outside the classroom environment.

Volunteering with the AMEP at TAFE NSW will provide you with an opportunity to:

Meet new people and understand a range of cultures;

Help new arrivals settle into their new life in Australia; and

Develop new skills or enhance existing knowledge and expertise.

Visit AMEP Volunteer Tutor Program for more information on how to volunteer.

Parli-flicks short film awards

Entries are now open for the 2025 Parli-Flicks Short Film Awards and it is free to enter.

The Parliament of NSW wants Year 5 to 12 school students to create a one-minute film that explores democracy and the role of parliament.

This year, students are being asked: ‘What do I value about democracy?’ and entries are required in the regional, metro, primary and secondary categories.

Entries close Friday, August 8 with the presentation night and Parli-Flicks Prize announcement on Wednesday, November 5.

Discover more about Parli-Flicks and how to enter by visiting Parli-Flicks Short Film Awards Entries Open.

NSW Parliament school tour subsidy

Regional, rural and remote schools can access a travel subsidy when visiting NSW Parliament in 2025. For more information visit NSW School Tour Travel Subsidy.

Service NSW mobile centres

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

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 the Medical Centre Toomelah on Tuesday, June 17 from 9am to 11am.

The mobile service centre will be at Boggabilla Community Health Centre 74 Merriwa Street on Tuesday, June 17 from 12.30pm to 3.30pm.

The mobile service centre will be at Barwon River Park, 155 St George Street Mungindi on Wednesday, June 18 2025 from 10am to 3pm.

Commentary by Brendan Moylan, Member for Northern Tablelands