MEMBER of the Legislative Council, Stephen Lawrence, was in Moree earlier in the week as part of a roving tour across the north-western and New England regions of New South Wales.

Mr Lawrence visited Inverell and Armidale, where he met with Labor party branch members and was hosted by Moree Country Labor on Wednesday.

He travelled to Narrabri early Thursday for further meetings before returning to Dubbo and onto Bourke on Friday.

Mr Lawrence, a former barrister and Dubbo mayor before entering state politics, said law and order in rural and regional towns was an issue he discussed with Moree Plains Shire mayor Susannah Pearse and deputy mayor Wayne Tighe.

“I came to Moree to meet with the local Labor party branch to check on how they are travelling, and to see if I can assist them in their work,” Mr Lawrence said.

“I also wanted to check how things are going in Moree on the law and order front.

“As a former mayor of Dubbo, and principal solicitor at the Aboriginal Legal Service in the western region, I understand how difficult these issues are,” he said.

“I also know how state and national media attention – as well as political attention – can be welcomed and helpful, but also damaging.

“It can understand just how long-term and difficult these issues are, because they rest on entrenched social problems affecting a small part of the community that impact everyone.

“I was keen to visit Moree, meet with council, community and our Labor branch and see how things are progressing,” he said.

Stephen Lawrence MLC was in Moree during the week to catch up with local Labor branch members as well as discuss law and order with Moree Plains Shire mayor Susannah Pearse and deputy mayor Wayne Tighe.

Mr Lawrence met with Cr Pearse and Cr Tighe as well as community groups and a number of Moree residents.

“The outcomes were good in terms of making and renewing contact. Meeting up with all these people will also help me with further contributions in parliament on issues impacting Moree and western New South Wales in general,” he said.

Moree Country Labor branch secretary Meryl Dillon said Mr Lawrence has ongoing knowledge and interest in law and order, especially as it affects western New South Wales communities.

“Stephen is no stranger to our community and has previously visited Moree to be updated on how things are functioning in our shire,” Mrs Dillon said.

“During his term on Council at Dubbo, he achieved a number of milestones and commitments.

“We discussed with him the Drug Court and the Koori Court that operate at Dubbo and looked at ways they could be adopted for Moree.

“We have Circle Sentencing here but unfortunately it is not getting referrals, and the much-awaited Merit Program has yet to become a reality,” she said.

“The Moree branch will continue to call for better approaches to our overwhelming issues, and with the help of members or parliament with wide experience like Stephen, we will keep up our representation on behalf of the community.”

As NAIDOC Week celebrations wind down across Australia, Mr Lawrence has attended as many events as his busy schedule allows.

“I attended the NAIDOC march in Dubbo, where I live, and then a community event afterwards – it was brilliant,” Mr Lawrence said.

“NAIDOC keeps growing in Dubbo and across Australia. It brings communities together, highlights the struggles of the past, present and future and showcases Aboriginal culture,” he said.