Politics coverage
Politics
MEMBER for New England Barnaby Joyce today announced to the house of representatives his resignation from the Australian National Party. The former deputy prime minister said in a one-minute address he announced his intention to quit the party about five weeks ago. “Apart from a 90-second phone conversation with the leader (of the National Party), [...]
Doli Incapax
MEMBER for Northern Tablelands Brendan Moylan has criticised the Minns Labor Government’s rejection of the NSW Opposition’s amendments to address doli Incapax in the Children (Criminal Proceedings) and Young Offenders Legislation Amendment Bill 2025. The government voted down the amendments, which would strengthen laws for repeat youth offenders, and instead opted for a weakened approach [...]
Local Government
DAY one of the Local Government NSW Annual Conference wrapped up on Monday after a busy program of policy discussion and special presentations. The conference continues today with guest speakers and the announcement of the host destination for the 2026 annual conference. Yesterday was opened with an address from NSW Premier Chris Minns, who acknowledged [...]
Regional Roads
THE Federal Government has backflipped on plans to slash speed limits on regional roads, a proposal that never should have seen the light of day, says Member for Parkes Jamie Chaffey. More than 11,000 submissions rejected the proposal. Mr Chaffey said the decision to quietly drop the policy is an admission Labor has failed to [...]
Northern Tablelands
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 [...]
Parkes Electorate
FEDERAL Nationals Member for Parkes, Jamie Chaffey, has attacked the lack of urgency in addressing financial sustainability for Australia’s 537 local governments, as the Albanese Labor government quietly reinstates a sustainability inquiry – something The Nationals have been calling for since early June. Mr Chaffey said the Albanese Government has been very slow to reinstate [...]
Politics
MEMBER for Coffs Harbour, Gurmesh Singh, has been elected to lead the NSW Nationals, after the shock resignation of Dugald Saunders on Monday. Mr Singh is the Shadow Minister for Regional Health, Emergency Services and the North Coast. Member for Tamworth, Kevin Anderson, has been elected deputy leader. “It is an honour to be elected [...]
Politics
DUGALD Saunders has stepped down as leader of the NSW Nationals. The State member for Dubbo said now is the right time to allow a new leader to take up the fight ahead of the next election. “For the past two and a half years I have had the privilege of leading the NSW Nationals – [...]
Northern Tablelands
Parliament was back this week for the first week of the November sittings. I gave a Notice of Motion calling on the Minns Labor Government to get on with the job in building the Glen Innes Hospital. Since the project was announced in 2021, the delays have been going on long enough. The debate on [...]
Rural Crime
COONAMBLE, Brewarrina, Bourke and Walgett mayors are returning home with state funding for a new strategy to address youth crime, following a meeting with NSW Premier Chris Minns that was arranged by the Member for Barwon, Roy Butler. The Premier has agreed to establish a trial site across the four Local Government Areas. There will [...]
