THE NSW Nationals have raised concerns about Premier Chris Minns’ apparent lack of knowledge on regional issues, saying the Premier was unable during Budget Estimates last week to provide adequate answers about a bail accommodation facility planned for Moree.

In a media statement released Thursday, the Nationals said Mr Minns was unable to confirm when the bail accommodation facility would open, seemingly blaming Moree Plains Shire mayor, Susannah Pearse, for the delay.

According to Hansard, when questioned about the facility by NSW Nationals Leader in the Upper House, Sarah Mitchell, Mr Minns replied: “The reason for the delay – we could have opened it up last year or as soon as it was announced – but the mayor and the community were concerned about the location. It’s been hard. A number of the sites that have been chosen, the mayor and other civic leaders have said, ‘We don’t want it there’. I think the local member – and I’m not knocking him for it – has had a say as well.”

In response to the Budget Estimates’ comments, Mr Minns said in a statement to Moree Online News, he was referring to a range of views raised by some people locally during consultation on the location.

“I’ve met with Susannah Pearse many times,” Mr Minns said.

“Cr Pearse has been constructive and engaged in discussions with the Government, and we appreciate her willingness to work with us on solutions that support the Moree community, including the bail accommodation.

“I was just making the point that the mayor had a view as to where it should be located – which she has every right to do.

“I didn’t intend for my comments in Budget Estimates to suggest mayor Pearse has been anything other than supportive and engaged,” Mr Minns said.

Mr Minns originally committed to opening the Moree bail accommodation facility by mid-2025.

The Premier’s Department on Friday said Youth Justice NSW has leased a local property, and maintenance and operational works are now being undertaken so it is fit-for-purpose.

Final works are in the process of being completed, the department said.

Premier Chris Minns in Moree early last year, talking about a bail accommodation facility planned for the town.

The site for the $8.75 million bail accommodation facility is believed to be several kilometres south of Moree.

The proposal to establish the facility was announced by Mr Minns in Moree two years ago. At the time Cr Mark Johnson was Moree Plains Shire mayor.

Cr Susannah Pearse was elected mayor nine months later. She said Council has maintained its support for the bail accommodation facility.

“This is one piece of the puzzle to stop the cycle of repeat offending and provide these youth with the supports and life skills they need to get on the right path,” Cr Pearse said.

“Early on, the Premier’s Department was looking at a property in a residential area close to the Moree township which raised concerns for locals and the sale did not proceed,” Cr Pearse said.

“I became mayor in October, 2024. At that time, the Premier’s Department was having challenges finding a suitable location.

“As a NSW Government project – not a council project – I was not involved in considering locations, but did suggest sites in our town already owned by the NSW Government which might have enabled faster activation.

“I was not aware of the now settled-on location for the facility until a concerned farmer from a neighbouring property brought it to my attention late last year,” she said.

“With these kinds of facilities, there will always be some concerns from neighbouring residents, especially if there is not sufficient engagement with those key stakeholders about how the facility will operate.

“I have asked that Youth Justice NSW directly engage with those neighbours and have offered to assist with those meetings.

“Ultimately, we need this facility to be a success for our community,” Cr Pearse said.

Member for Northern Tablelands, Brendan Moylan, said he was disappointed by Mr Minns’ comments during Budget Estimates.

“Despite my offer, I haven’t had any involvement with the final location and to this day, the NSW Government still hasn’t advised me where this extraordinarily expensive bail facility will actually be located,” Mr Moylan said.

“I was always willing to work with the State Government on this issue and to be frank, the Premier’s remarks at estimates were disappointing.

“I thought he was better than that,” Mr Moylan said.

NSW Nationals Leader, Gurmesh Singh, said Mr Minns is clearly not across his brief when it comes to regional New South Wales.

“If it happens outside of Newcastle, Sydney or Wollongong, the Minns Labor Government doesn’t care,” Mr Singh said.

“Communities across regional New South Wales deserve a government who cares about them and knows the basics about the issues we are facing.”