LATEST NEWS

The NSW government is trialling Rapid Antigen Home Testing (RAHT) kits to reduce disruption at schools and halve the time close contacts need to isolate. Nationals Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning Sarah Mitchell said a pilot program of the test kits would begin in Albury next week. “I want to see disruption to…

Plans for greater water security in Tamworth and the Peel Valley have reached a significant milestone with the announcement of the final route for the new 55-kilometre Dungowan Dam pipeline. NSW Nationals Minister for Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey was joined by Nationals Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson to announce the preferred route, which…

NSW Nationals Minister for Agriculture Adam Marshall has announced applications are open for Recreational Fishing Trust grants across the state. Following a record number of grants funded in the last round, the NSW Nationals in the state government are now calling on applications for projects to commence in 2022 to improve and promote recreational fishing…

The NSW Nationals in the state government’s new learn to swim program will be expanded from preschool aged children to include kindergarten kids who missed out on lessons due to COVID restrictions. Under the ‘First Lap’ program, eligible children from the Cootamundra region can access a $100 voucher for swimming lessons with an approved provider,…

The NSW Nationals in the state government have taken an historic step to help coastal farmers produce more and better prepare for drought and bushfire by allowing greater water capture through an increase in harvestable rights. Coastal farmers and landholders can currently store 10 per cent of the rain that falls on their properties, yet…

Nationals Minister for Agriculture Adam Marshall has announced a $24.2 million funding boost, which will see cutting-edge technologies, including environmental DNA (eDNA) testing, used by farmers to manage the state’s worst weeds. Mr Marshall said the investment would modernise the state’s biosecurity systems. “We are putting smart technologies in place which will tackle weeds brought…

$15 million in maintenance work on Boyds Bay Bridge at Tweed Heads has been completed. Nationals Member for Tweed Geoff Provest said work on the eight-span concrete bridge, built over Terranora Creek in 1985, started in 2018. “About 32,000 people use Boyds Bay Bridge each day and the project was carried out with minimal inconvenience…

Nationals Member for Upper Hunter, Dave Layzell, has congratulated Adrienne Fisher who celebrated her 100th birthday over the weekend. Mrs Fisher is the wife of late former Upper Hunter MP, Colin Fisher OAM, who held the seat for the Country Party and The Nationals between 1970 and 1988. “Becoming a centenarian is an amazing achievement…

Students who started university this year can still apply for a scholarship worth up to $18,000, says Nationals Member for Riverina, Michael McCormack. Mr McCormack said Round 5 of the NSW Nationals in the federal government’s Rural and Regional Enterprise Scholarship (RRES) program had scholarships available for eligible students who started study in 2021. Mr…

The headland walkway in Red Rock Reserve north of Coffs Harbour has been restored to its former glory thanks to the NSW Nationals in the state government in partnership with Reflections Holiday Parks and the local community. In February this year, Reflections was successful in receiving a $32,000 grant from the NSW Nationals in the…

Community feedback will help shape plans to upgrade the Bruxner Highway intersections with Ballina and Ellis roads at Alstonville. Local Nationals MLC Ben Franklin said the release of the preferred option for the designs brought work on the $5 million election commitment to improve safety at these intersections a step closer. “Transport for NSW carried…

The final stage of the return to school started today with more than 500,000 students from Years 2 to 11 welcomed back to classrooms in remaining regional areas and in Greater Sydney. To help students return to normal life and support their studies, restrictions on school sport will be lifted and HSC special consideration extended…

Deputy Nationals leader Bronnie Taylor has praised the commitment and perseverance of her local Nimmitabel community while officially opening the Nimmitabel Bell. The Nimmitabel Lions Club originally proposed the Bell some years ago, with long-time member Howard Charles amongst those leading the charge. Mrs Taylor has praised Mr Charles, who was seriously injured when the…

Significant progress has been made for communities across the Murray Darling Basin, with a new proposal presented to communities on two of the most significant projects associated with the Murray Darling Basin Plan. Nationals Minister for Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey said the re-scoped Menindee Lakes and Yanco Creek Offtake projects – two of the major…