The Bundarra Show got the local show season underway at the weekend.

It was great to see the rodeo back after several years and it was well-attended.

Thank-you to the committee for putting on an excellent show. These events don’t run without volunteers and more are needed, so please get along and help out so these important events can continue to run.

Walcha Road War Memorial upgrades

Mayor Eric Noakes and I unveiled funding secured through the Community Building Partnership program to upgrade the stairs and install safety railing at the Walcha Road War Memorial.

It is important to ensure our war memorials are maintained and accessible so the community can continue to gather and pay tribute to locals who served our country.

By upgrading the access, our older residents can continue to visit the Walcha Road War Memorial.

Parliament returns

The past week saw the first week of NSW Parliament sittings for 2026 and it was incredibly busy with lots on the table.

My Notice of Motion and Private Members’ Statement were on the State Government’s failure to ensure a doctor is physically present in emergency departments across the electorate.

From February 3 to the evening of February 12, the Moree Emergency Department will yet again operate without a doctor on-site, instead relying on a doctor on a trolley.

This is happening far too often and the people of the Northern Tablelands deserve better.

If this was happening in the city, the Minister would be on television coverage every hour but when it comes to regional NSW, they just abandon country patients. I have urged the government to act on the recommendations of the Select Committee on Remote, Rural and Regional Health which provided the Government with several sensible suggestions on how to fix this problem.

People in the bush deserve equal access to health care.

The State Government introduced the Work Health and Safety Amendment (Digital Work Systems) Bill 2025 and I spoke against the legislation in the debate on Wednesday.

If passed, the legislation will apply to every workplace across NSW including small businesses, retailers, schools, hospitals, construction sites, government agencies and beyond.

This Bill forces small businesses to hand over sensitive private information to union officials and puts further pressure on them when expenses and regulations are already out of control.

We already have systems in place in New South Wales to adequately protect staff from unsafe working environments and unscrupulous rostering requirements.

This is a union power grab dressed up as safety reform and it is not needed.

Major business groups have already expressed their opposition to the Bill, sending a clear message to the government that they have got this wrong.

My Questions on Notice were on the men’s behaviour program in relation to domestic violence, Glen Innes Hospital redevelopment, the gun buy-back legislation, EnergyCo expenditure, feral pig control, old Walcha Hospital site, Warialda court house, and rural healthcare.

I also formally recognised a number of our community groups in the chamber – the Walcha Garden Festival, Glen Innes’ John Lee, Glen Innes Christmas Day luncheon, Walcha’s Yvette Stanton, Bingara’s Roxy Theatre 90 Year Anniversary, Boggabilla Central School’s Mary Anne Hennessy, Guyra Lamb and Potato Festival, Moree’s Tony Gadsby, and Black Mountain Nursery.

Much more is needed from the government on feral pig control

The State Government needs to do a lot more when it comes to controlling feral pigs across the state.

It is estimated there are millions of pigs in NSW yet between July 2024 and June 2025, only 83,207 feral pigs were culled.

Our farmers are fighting a losing battle with feral pigs tearing through native vegetation and damaging fragile ecosystems, attacking livestock, including lambs and calves, as well as destroying crops and soil.

A one-size-fits-all approach does not work and more funding for locally focused programs is needed. Control methods need to be drastically scaled up, locally targeted and ongoing.

Tertiary Health Study Subsidies program

I encourage any local students who are enrolled in medical, nursing, midwifery, dentistry, and allied health degrees in NSW to apply for up to $12,000 in financial support to assist with their studies.

For more information visit Health Study Subsidies Program.

Southern New England Landcare workshops

Southern New England Landcare is holding four workshops across the Northern Tablelands for leveraging natural capital on your farm with LLS adviser Rachel Lawrence.

The workshops are aimed at maximising rewards and avoiding risks on farms.

The events will be in Uralla on February 18, Walcha on February 19, Armidale February 25 and Guyra February 26.

To view and book tickets, visit Southern New England Landcare Workshops.

Learn to swim program

Funding has been secured for local learn to swim providers to deliver learn to swim and water safety programs.

Providers are Bingara,  Guyra,  Monckton, Uralla, and Warialda, with relevant information HERE.

Alternatively, email [email protected].

At Armidale, the Royal Life Saving Society Australia can be emailed at [email protected] or call 02 9634 3700.

What’s On

February 6-7: Walcha races, Friday is Cup Day while Saturday is a family day.

February 7: Uralla Show.

February 7: 80s and 90s Drag Trivia at Inverell Town Hall from 6pm.

February 9: NRL Hogs Footy Clinic with Brad Fittler, Greg Inglis, Yasmin Clydsdale and Olivia Higgins at Boughton Oval, Moree from 4.30pm until 5.30pm.

February 13: Armidale Night Markets at the Armidale Showground from 5pm.

February 13-14-15: Glen Innes Show

Commentary by Brendan Moylan, Member for Northern Tablelands