Wednesday,
30 July 2025
Politics and Government
Inquiry into Local Government amendment bill
Politics and Government

Inquiry into Local Government amendment bill

An Upper House inquiry has been established to examine the Local Government Amendment (Elections) Bill 2025. The bill proposes a number of amendments to the Local Government Act 1993 and the Local Government (General) Regulation 2021, including...

Mid West Media  >  
13 Jul 2025
Committee calls for better voter participation and confidence
Politics and Government

Committee calls for better voter participation and confidence

Voter participation and confidence is vital to a healthy democracy but is facing risks due to rising misinformation. The Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters has today published its report on increasing voter participation, confidence and...

Mid West Media  >  
13 Jul 2025
Call to action leads to a win for farmers
Politics and Government

Call to action leads to a win for farmers

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke put out a call to action last week to local farmers that was heard with the Land Management (Native Vegetation) Code 2018 Amendment Order 2025 now receiving a deadline extension for consultation. Ms Cooke said she...

Rebecca Hewson  >  
13 Jul 2025
Call to action leads to a win for farmers
Politics and Government

Call to action leads to a win for farmers

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke put out a call to action last week to local farmers that was heard with the Land Management (Native Vegetation) Code 2018 Amendment Order 2025 now receiving a deadline extension for consultation. Ms Cooke said she...

Rebecca Hewson  >  
13 Jul 2025
NSW Budget responses
Politics and Government

NSW Budget responses

Lawrence MLC: Building our future across the Cootamundra electorate The Minns Labor Government is investing in regional communities to support them against the many challenges faced from natural disasters impacts to biosecurity threats to cost of...

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06 Jul 2025
A mixed bag for locals in NSW Budget
Politics and Government

A mixed bag for locals in NSW Budget

The NSW Budget has delivered a welcomed continuation of funding for major health infrastructure in the Cootamundra electorate but offers little else for regional communities. Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke said there is still no funding for...

Mid West Media  >  
29 Jun 2025
Committee investigates Public Lands and Waterways
Politics and Government

Committee investigates Public Lands and Waterways

Committee investigates Public Lands and Waterways

Mid West Media  >  
26 Jun 2025
Advocacy to continue despite bridge claims
Politics and Government

Advocacy to continue despite bridge claims

Member of Cootamundra, Steph Cooke has pledged to continue advocating for a widening or replacement of the William Bradford Bridge despite advice from Transport for NSW that current signs and road markings meet Australian standards. Last month, an...

Rebecca Hewson  >  
29 Jun 2025
Parliamentary committee to visit the region
Politics and Government

Parliamentary committee to visit the region

The Parliamentary Committee on Investment, Industry and Regional Development have travelled to Griffith and Deniliquin as part of its inquiry into the impacts of the Water Amendment (Restoring our Rivers) Act (Cth) 2023 on regional communities in...

Mid West Media  >  
15 Jun 2025
Advocacy to continue despite bridge claims
Politics and Government

Advocacy to continue despite bridge claims

Member of Cootamundra, Steph Cooke has pledged to continue advocating for a widening or replacement of the William Bradford Bridge despite advice from Transport for NSW that current signs and road markings meet Australian standards. Last month, an...

Rebecca Hewson  >  
29 Jun 2025
Parliamentary committee to visit the region
Politics and Government

Parliamentary committee to visit the region

The Parliamentary Committee on Investment, Industry and Regional Development have travelled to Griffith and Deniliquin as part of its inquiry into the impacts of the Water Amendment (Restoring our Rivers) Act (Cth) 2023 on regional communities in...

Mid West Media  >  
15 Jun 2025
Debate shows disparities between advice and reality
Politics and Government

Debate shows disparities between advice and reality

A petition debate brought on by Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke has raised credible concerns about the NSW Government’s over reliance on department advice, and lacking consultation with frontline staff in regional and rural healthcare...

Rebecca Hewson  >  
15 Jun 2025
Report released on proposed changes
Politics and Government

Report released on proposed changes

The Legislative Council’s Standing Committee on Law and Justice has released its report into proposed changes to liability and entitlements for psychological injury in New South Wales. The inquiry was referred to the committee by Treasurer of NSW...

Mid West Media  >  
08 Jun 2025
Parliament listens to Councils on RFS
Politics and Government

Parliament listens to Councils on RFS

In a significant win for local government, a NSW Parliamentary committee has recommended that the state’s Rural Fire Service fleet should be legally recognised as NSW Government assets. The Public Accounts Committee has tabled the report for its...

Mid West Media  >  
08 Jun 2025
Calls for submissions into road safety
Politics and Government

Calls for submissions into road safety

Last year close to 70 per cent of the state’s road fatalities occurred in regional NSW according to Transport for NSW which is why there is an inquiry to be held in the NSW Parliament. The new inquiry by the Committee on Road Safety is looking into...

Mid West Media  >  
08 Jun 2025
Call for early intervention to reduce youth crime in rural and regional NSW
Politics and Government

Call for early intervention to reduce youth crime in rural and regional NSW

There is an urgent need for early intervention to deal with the complex social drivers of youth crime in regional and rural NSW. The Committee on Law and Safety has today tabled its first report for the inquiry into community safety in regional and...

Mid West Media  >  
08 Jun 2025
National Party splits from the Coalition
Politics and Government

National Party splits from the Coalition

Newly re-elected Member for Riverina Michael McCormack has said the National Party will stand by the interests of regional Australia following the announcement of the party splitting from the Coalition. Last week the National Party announced it would...

Rebecca Hewson  >  
01 Jun 2025
Inquiry into illegal tobacco trade announced
Politics and Government

Inquiry into illegal tobacco trade announced

Inquiry into illegal tobacco trade announced by NSW Parliament

Mid West Media  >  
29 May 2025
Calls for action following another accident
Politics and Government

Calls for action following another accident

Following an accident involving two trucks near Harden last week Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke MP, is once again demanding urgent action from the NSW Government to upgrade or replace the dangerous William Bradford Bridge. According to local...

Rebecca Hewson  >  
01 Jun 2025
Driver admits responsibility for deaths after driving through floodwater
Politics and Government

Driver admits responsibility for deaths after driving through floodwater

The man who drove through floodwaters near Boorowa with two friends on the back of his ute in 2022 that resulted in them being washed away has admitted at his sentencing hearing that he believes he is responsible for their deaths. Jaward Al Hussein’s...

Mid West Media  >  
18 May 2025
McCormack re-elected to Riverina
Politics and Government

McCormack re-elected to Riverina

Member for Riverina Michael McCormack has retained his seat with an easy win over his fellow candidates in the 2025 Federal Election over the weekend. Mr McCormack had a 3.3 percent swing in his favour winning the two candidate preferred vote 63.01...

Mid West Media  >  
18 May 2025
AEC: Be sure to check the source
Politics and Government

AEC: Be sure to check the source

The Australian Electoral Commission is encouraging locals to stop and consider and ‘check the source’ ahead of the upcoming federal election on Saturday May 3, 2025. Acting electoral commissioner for the AEC Jeff Pope has encouraged voters to stick...

Contributed Article  >  
04 May 2025
Coalition commit to over $3 million for Hilltops
Politics and Government

Coalition commit to over $3 million for Hilltops

Member for Riverina Michael McCormack has announced that if elected the coalition will commit to over $2 million in road funding and over $1.7 million for community infrastructure. According to Mr McCormack the Coalition has committed to $2,104,387...

Mid West Media  >  
04 May 2025
Pre-poll opens this weekend in Young
Politics and Government

Pre-poll opens this weekend in Young

The Australian Electoral Commission has announced the opening of Pre-Polling in Young for the upcoming federal election will open this Saturday April 26, 2025. The Young Town Hall will have early voting available between 9am and 4pm on Saturday April...

Rebecca Hewson  >  
04 May 2025
Marking 110 years since the Gallipoli landings
Politics and Government

Marking 110 years since the Gallipoli landings

Communities across the Cootamundra electorate are preparing to mark 110 years since Australian soldiers landed at ANZAC Cove and express their gratitude to the brave men and women who have served or continue to serve in the Australian Defence Force...

Contributed Article  >  
04 May 2025
Riverina candidates are confirmed
Politics and Government

Riverina candidates are confirmed

The candidates in the upcoming federal election for Riverina have been confirmed by the Australian Electoral Commission. The federal election is due to be held on Saturday May 3, 2025 and there have been 13 candidates confirmed to be running for the...

Rebecca Hewson  >  
04 May 2025
Second report published on health services in rural and regional NSW
Politics and Government

Second report published on health services in rural and regional NSW

Have health services and specialist care improved for communities in remote, rural and regional NSW? A recently published report found that access to some services has declined, with maternity care and mental health care now reaching a crisis point...

Contributed Article  >  
20 Apr 2025
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