The second week of the November sittings wrapped up this week.

I gave a Notice of Motion calling on the Minns Labor Government to reinstate the 100kph speed zone on Bundarra Road and to properly fund council roads.

I tabled Questions On Notice on teacher recruitment, aged care beds in hospitals, home schooling enrolments, the Glen Innes Hospital redevelopment, police recruitment, regional road funding, upgrades to public schools, water security, and the return and earn scheme.

I delivered Community Recognition Statements on Armidale’s Robyn Shanahan, Moree’s Renaye Madden, Guyra tradies, the Walcha community, the Armidale community, Moree Services Football Club, Glen Innes High School’s Matt Dodds, Walcha Coffee, Ben Venue, Black Gully Festival, Tenterden Hall celebrates 100 years, and Walcha’s Meagan Nolan.

My Private Members’ Statement summed up the year that was in the Northern Tablelands.

There are huge staffing problems in healthcare across regional New South Wales and we need to address that.

Crime in New South Wales is an ongoing issue, particularly in Moree, Mungindi and Inverell. Road maintenance is an ongoing issue, particularly local council networks which are too large for the rate base. The way the roll out of the Renewable Energy Zone continues to be an issue and is not being done fairly.

Doli Incapax

The Children (Criminal Proceedings) and Young Offenders Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 was put forward in Parliament this week. The Bill seeks to make further provisions about doli incapax.

The Bill is a good start, but I think we have an opportunity to make it better, particularly for regional communities.

The opposition will be putting forward amendments to the Bill to make it better and ensure there is accountability for offenders and those young offenders are dealt with appropriately.

The opposition’s amendments are – that young accountable for their actions, able to engage with appropriate services to address their off, and ensure regional communities are protected.

Gwydir Shire Council’s general manager Leeah Daley and mayor Tiff Galvin, with Member for Northern Tablelands Brendan Moylan, gave a presentation at the NSW Country Mayors meeting on the GSC’s Education and Training Program.

New outdoor space at Inverell Community Youth Centre

A total of $14,939 was secured from the Community Building Partnership program to install a new concrete courtyard area at the Inverell Community Youth Centre.

The new facility will be a great place for young people to engage in physical activity, socialise, learn and have a safe space to hang out.

The centre is a place hundreds of young people from around the region go to access support, mentoring, a warm meal, advocacy, skill development and more. It is open three afternoons a week for a drop-in youth hub while many other organisations use the facilities.

NSW Seniors Festival funding

Glen Innes Severn Council received $10,000 while Armidale Regional Council received $4,500 through the NSW Seniors Festival Grant Program to host events within the region as part of the statewide festival held from 2 to 15 March 2026. The NSW Seniors Festival is the celebrates older people in our communities.

Glen Innes Severn Council will host ‘Re-Wired’, a two-week multi-venue program with cultural, artistic, creative, wellbeing and freely accessible events while Armidale Regional Council will hold an event in Guyra featuring a hot meal, drinks and musical entertainment to encourage older people to remain active, healthy and engaged.

Bundarra Road speed limit reduction

Transport for NSW recently changed speed limits on numerous roads from Armidale to Invergowrie. The most significant one is a 13-kilometre stretch of Bundarra Road leaving Armidale which will have the speed limit reduced from 100kph to 80kph. Since these changes were announced, my electorate office has received more than 60 complaints from residents who were not consulted.

I have now discussed this issue with the Minister’s office, and I am told that they are now “looking into” the matter and they will come back to me in a week or so.

I also moved a Notice of Motion in Parliament this morning which called on the Minns Labor Government to reinstate the 100kph speed limit on Bundarra Road immediately and to properly fund local council road budgets. I will keep on this.

Telecommunications information roadshows – Uralla and Moree

NSW Farmers’ is holding telecommunications sessions which bring together key industry partners to discuss local telecommunications challenges and explore practical solutions. NSW Farmers members and the wider community are invited to the free Telecommunications Information Roadshows, in coming to Uralla and Moree.

The Uralla session will be at the Courthouse from 11am until 1pm on Tuesday, December 9 while the Moree session will be at the Masonic Hall on Wednesday, December 10 from 6pm until 8pm.

Basic catering provided. RSVPs essential at RSVP Telecommunications Information Roadshows.

ePetition for the rejection of the new transmission line corridor

Anna Young from Walcha has launched a Parliamentary ePetition which opposes the re-routed transmission corridor from Bayswater to Walcha.

It needs 20,000 to be debated in Parliament. To view and sign, visit: ePetition New Transmission Line Corridor Rejection.

What’s On

November 21: Uralla Christmas Street Fair from 5pm.

November 21: Warialda Town Christmas Carols

November 22: Christmas craft and card making at the Guyra Library

November 22: Inverell East Rotary Christmas Fair from 4pm at Campbell Park

December 13: Rotary Club of Armidale Central Christmas book sale – corner of Dumaresq and Canambe Streets

Commentary by Brendan Moylan, Member for Northern Tablelands