Local residents welcomed the Premier, the Minister for Health, and other Cabinet members with a warm and engaging response, raising important issues around healthcare, education, childcare, and responses to recent power outages.

Power Outages and Telecommunications

The recent power outages highlighted the critical need for reliable infrastructure to support regional communities. Discussions emphasised the importance of accountability and ongoing investment in ensuring energy resilience, as well as addressing telecommunications failures that left some communities isolated. Collaborative efforts between state and federal authorities were highlighted as essential to finding solutions.

Community Priorities

- Healthcare and Services: The need for youth mental health specialists, incentives to attract healthcare professionals, and expanded rural health infrastructure were key themes.

- Education and Childcare: Access to early childhood education, public boarding school options, and resources to support families in remote areas were widely discussed.

- Biosecurity and Farming: Farmers raised concerns about biosecurity risks linked to mining exploration, with suggestions for stronger safeguards to protect agricultural land.

- Lead Levels in Children: A new working group has been established to address ongoing concerns about lead exposure in Broken Hill.

Tourism and Regional Connectivity‍

The importance of maintaining affordable and reliable air services was highlighted, alongside aspirations to position Broken Hill as a self-sustaining tourism destination. Discussions explored ways to support regional tourism infrastructure to unlock long-term growth.

Insights from The Hon. Penny Sharpe

We were privileged to meet with Penny Sharpe, NSW Minister for Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Heritage, to discuss the Junction Rivers renewable energy project. It was a fantastic opportunity to highlight the project’s benefits, including job creation, local procurement opportunities, and community benefit programs.

Penny’s insights on supporting women in trades, building local supply chains, and creating pathways for regional workforce participation were particularly valuable. Her commitment to collaboration and ensuring tangible benefits for communities aligns closely with the goals of the Junction Rivers project.

The Community Cabinet reinforced the importance of listening, collaboration, and working together to ensure regional communities are supported through meaningful investments and opportunities. Events like these are vital for shaping a future that benefits everyone.