The Minns Labor Government has confirmed it will cut up to 165 jobs from the only department dedicated to regional NSW.
These gut-wrenching cuts to the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) are a slap in the face for an agency that does immeasurable work and has served our country communities for many years, ensuring they are supported in every way.
It’s no secret Chris Minns and his government have a complete disregard for anyone who lives outside the city.
In fact, it’s often said under Labor NSW stands for Newcastle, Sydney, and Wollongong, while the regions are completely forgotten and that couldn’t be any clearer than it is today.
Some of the teams where these redundancies will come from include agriculture and biosecurity, regional development and delivery in the regional programs and partnerships team, and enabling services in the Rural Assistance Authority (RAA) which is concerning.
Not only does it raise alarm bells for our primary producers who are constantly facing threats to our food and fibre, but also to the RAA, the lead agency responsible for rolling out natural disaster grants, which seems ludicrous when you consider the past year.
We’ve seen devastating floods on the mid-north coast and drought impacting much of southern NSW, so how can the government possibly justify this decision?
It’s also disappointing to hear the team that helped manage the Resources for Regions and Stronger Country Communities programs, which have seen hundreds of millions of dollars directed towards regional projects, are also on the chopping block, raising questions about how any support will flow to the bush.
The Minns Government, and in particular Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty, needs to own up to this decision and provide clarity around how these changes will impact every farmer and every resident living in a regional area right now.
