A sum of $1.7 million was secured for Landcare programs across the Northern Tablelands under the latest round of the NSW Government’s Landcare Enabling Program.

The funding will be shared between North West Regional Landcarers Inc in Bingara ($922,561) and the New England Landcare Network in Armidale ($830,899).

These funded projects are based on local priorities and community involvement.

Whether it is restoring waterways, improving soil health, tackling erosion or helping landholders improve farm management practices, Landcare groups focus on practical outcomes that benefit both local communities and the environment.

It is great to secure this funding so these fantastic programs can continue.

Have your say on the Moree drone trial

The community is now invited to provide feedback on the Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) trial in Moree.

The trial was an Australian-first and was rolled out to tackle crime, speed up response times in emergency situations, assist search and rescue operations, motor vehicle collisions and reduce risks to police by allowing them to make safer and more informed decisions.

Since the trial began, stolen vehicles have been recovered, violent offenders tracked and arrested, and they have assisted in break-and-enters, and fires.

The community can now provide feedback to improve the operations of and policies on drone operations to help shape how they will be used in the future.

The survey on the drone trial in Moree can be accessed HERE and is open until 11.59pm Friday, 12 June 2026.

Parliamentary sittings

It was back to Parliament again this week for the first of the June sittings.

I spoke in the debates on the Environmental Legislation Amendment (Plastic Reduction and Container Recycling) Bill 2026 and the Crimes Amendment (Breaking and Entering Offences) Bill 2026.

I spoke against the Environmental Legislation Amendment (Plastic Reduction and Container Recycling) Bill 2026 and the NSW Opposition will move a series of amendments. This Bill would come at a huge cost to cafe owners in an already tough economy.

The Bill would mean coffee shops and cafes will be forced to offer re‑usable cups to their customers. The shops will need to buy those cups, store them, track them, hope that their customers bring them back, and then wash them – all at the expense of the business.

The NSW Opposition’s amendments will seek to remove the mandatory reusable cup requirement and ensure that a cafe is only required to accept a re‑usable cup brought in by a customer if it is clean. Small businesses are already struggling through rising energy costs, rising rents, rising interest rates and, rising staffing costs. Small businesses and cafe owners already support practical environmental measures by allowing customers to bring in their own re-usable cups.

This Bill will also create additional staffing and storage obligations which are not practical. The Minns Labor Government failed to consult with cafe and shop owners when putting together this Bill and it shows. This Bill would make running these small businesses much harder.

I spoke in support of the Crimes Amendment (Breaking and Entering Offences) Bill 2026.

A name on a lease or title deed should never be a shield for violence. The Bill restores the original intent of break and enter offences by focusing on who actually occupies the home as opposed to whose name remains on the paperwork.

People deserve to reside in their homes without fear of forced intrusion or violence. It is a response to the  High Court’s decision in BA v The King, which exposed a significant gap in New South Wales break and enter laws.

That decision created a situation where a person who no longer lives at a property could avoid a conviction for break and enter because they retained a legal right of entry through a lease, tenancy agreement or some form of ownership interest. The bill will help to ensure that victims can remain at home and feel safe there.

It makes it clear that once a person has ceased living at a property but later forces their way in to commit a serious personal violence offence, they can be prosecuted for break and enter.

It closes that legal loophole. People in country towns, particularly domestic violence victims, expect that we, as legislators, apply common sense when we are making and amending laws.

My Private Members’ Statement was on agriculture in the Northern Tablelands.

It was great to see some much-needed rain fall in the electorate and hopefully we will see some follow-up in coming months. I highlighted Danthonia’s work in regenerative agriculture and regenerative grazing which is quite incredible.

I tabled Questions On Notice on Energy Accounts Payment Assistance (EAPA) Scheme, Legal Aid NSW, safety of hospital workers, REZ, Environment Impact Statement, REZ water requirements, and measures to prevent damage to cultural and heritage items during REZ construction.

I delivered Community Recognition Statements on the Bingara community, Bald Nob’s Judy Burton, Armidale’s Bruce Myers, Nick Hanson, Guyra’s Dot Vickery, Armidale Lions Club, Dumaresq RFS’s Sam Baker, and Armidale’s Maielle Parsons.

Double demerits

The King’s Birthday double demerit period will start at 12am Friday, 5 June, with the enforcement period continuing until 11.59pm on Monday, June 8.

Double demerits apply for offences including speeding, using a mobile phone illegally, riding without a helmet, not wearing or incorrectly wearing a seatbelt or carrying passengers not wearing or incorrectly wearing a seatbelt or restraint.

Feral pigs

From Monday, June 1, the month-long survey will gather reports on the impacts on feral pigs on properties for the last 12 months.

Share what you have seen on your property with the responses to help the LLS build a clearer picture of feral pig activity across NSW and support regional biosecurity planning and control efforts.

To take the survey, go to Feral Pigs Impact Survey.

Service NSW mobile centres

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

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 Outreach Health Clinic, Toomelah on Tuesday, June 16 from 9am until 11am.

The mobile service centre will be at Community Health Centre, 74 Merriwa Street, Boggabilla on Tuesday, June 16 from 12pm until 3pm.

The mobile service centre will be at Barwon River Park, 155 George St Mungindi on Wednesday, June 17 from 10am until 3pm.

What’s On

June 6: Mallawa Picnic Races.

June 6: Annual Myall Creek Memorial Exhibition – Ceramic Break Sculpture Park 2535 Allan Cunnginham Road, Warialda from 10am until 5pm.

June 7: Myall Creek Massacre Memorial Gathering – Meet at Myall Creek Hall, Reserve Creek Rd, Myall Creek from 9am .

June 6-7-8: Bingara Bush Bash Open Championship Tennis Tournament. Details HERE.

June 7: Drought Time Out for our farming community from 11am at 7459 Bruxner Highway, Dumaresq Valley.

June 18: Book Conversation: Being Patient Close Encounters in Cancer World and Can Assist fundraiser. New England Regional Art Museum, Armidale from 5.30pm to 7pm. Tickets HERE.

June 20: Uralla Arts Winter Solstice Celebration at The Glen, Uralla.

June 20: Glen Innes School of Arts and Music Open Day at 181 Bourke Street from 10am until 3pm.

Commentary by Brendan Moylan, Member for Northern Tablelands