Coorabell Hall is hosting a special Indigenous cultural event on Saturday, November 23 at Coorabell Hall from 2pm

ECHO, 20 November 2024:

Coorabell Hall is hosting a special Indigenous cultural event on Saturday, November 23 at Coorabell Hall from 2pm.

Hall secretary, Adele Smout, says that Many Rivers – Bundjalung Culture and History – Understanding and Remembrance will feature Bundjalung author and historian, Dr Shauna Bostock.

‘[She is] winner of the 2024 NSW Premier’s Community and Regional History prize, with her book Reaching Through Time. Historical photos that form part of the event will be on display from 2pm, and Wahlubal Elder, Uncle Lewis Walker, will conduct a Welcome and Smoking ceremony at 5pm.

‘This will be followed by truth-telling for understanding and remembrance of First Nations people in the region.’

Entry is by donation.

Coorabell is just north-west of Bangalow and west of Byron Bay, in the middle of Bundjalung Country which stretches further than the eye can see in that part of north-east New South Wales.

The address for Coorabell Hall is 565 Coolamon Scenic Drive, Coorabell, Byron Bay NSW 2479.

Travelling north turnoff onto Hinterland Way (B62 old Pacific Highway) and watch for the turnoff into Coolamon Scenic Drive. Pass Friday Hut Rd turnoff and the hall is 1km further on the left hand side.

It's hard to miss

IMAGE: https://www.coorabellhall.net/

Cluster of ram raids involving robbery & arson in Northern Rivers region sees NSW Police establishing Strike Force Albany to investigate the incidents.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udQ2FnU1pfE 

ECHO, 15 November 2024:

Financial Crime Squad detectives have released CCTV as they appeal for information following the ram raid and arson of two tobacconists at Tweed and Ballina.....

There was also a fire at the Ocean Shores [Byron Shire] tobacconist at about 12.45am on Tuesday, 6 August though police have not claimed any link between the Ballina and Tweed ram raids and fire and the one at Ocean Shores.

Full article at https://www.echo.net.au/2024/11/appeal-over-arson-and-ram-raid-of-tobacconists-at-tweed-and-ballina/

9 News, 15 November 2024:

Police have set their sights on the booming illegal tobacco trade after recent attacks on tobacconists prompted fears violent turf wars are spilling into NSW.....

9 News, 7 November 2024:

There have been more than 1000 offences recorded in Goondiwindi [Qld] in the past year alone.

Its location on the edge of NSW makes it a tough one for police to track down perpetrators.

Taskforce Guardian – which has seen NSW and Queensland police join forces – stepped in to tackle the spike in robberies and break-ins in a three-day cross-border crackdown.

"I will say to these offenders, if you target these locations we will identify you and we will use our intelligence skills and we will use our counterparts in Queensland to arrest you," NSW Police's Andrew Holland told 9News.

9News was invited to see inside the task force, which involved Queensland and NSW police officers teaming up to hunt down the alleged criminals.....

NSW Police News, 15 November 2024:

Detectives release CCTV appeal following ram raids and arsons of Northern NSW tobacconists

Financial Crime Squad detectives have released CCTV as they appeal for information following the ram raid and arson of two tobacconists in Northern NSW.

About 4.30am on Sunday 22 September 2024, police were called to a tobacconist on Minjungbal Drive, Tweed Heads South, following reports of a crash.

Officers attached to Tweed/Byron Police District arrived to find a Toyota Corolla sedan, believed to have been stolen from Queensland, driven into a tobacconist, before two unknown males entered the business destroying several displays and stealing large amounts of cigarettes.

A crime scene was established, and police commenced an investigation into the incident.

A month later, about 2.40am on Tuesday 22 October, police were called to the same tobacconist, following reports a car had driven into a neighbouring business.

Police arrived to find a MG SUV had driven into the store – as bollards had been placed in front of the tobacconist – before two unknown men poured fuel inside the business and fled without setting it alight.

A crime scene was established, and police commenced an investigation into the incident.

About 3.30am the next day (Wednesday 23 October 2024), emergency services were called to River Street in Ballina, following reports of a building fire.

On arrival, officers attached to Richmond Police District located a silver Mercedes sedan inside the shopfront of a tobacconist, well alight.

Police were told the sedan drove into the business before the vehicle caught fire, with the occupants of the vehicle leaving the scene prior to police arrival.

Fire and Rescue NSW attended and extinguished the blaze; however, the building was extensively damaged.

Surrounding units were evacuated and two other vehicles were damaged by the blaze.

No injuries have been reported as a result of the incident.

A crime scene has been established and an investigation into the incident has commenced.

Following initial investigations linking all three incidents, detectives attached to State Crime Command’s Financial Crime Squad’s Arson Unit commenced Strike Force Albany to investigate the incidents.

As part of investigations, strike force detectives have released CCTV of the two ram raids at the Tweed Heads South tobacconist.

Detectives are also hoping to speak to the driver and passengers of a dark coloured sedan seen leaving the scene of the second ram raid.

Anyone with information about any of the incidents are urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Anyone with information that may assist investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.

According to NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) over the last financial year ending June 2024 the incidence rate per 100,000 population of robbery using a weapon other than a firearm in the Tweed and Ballina local government areas was 10.2 and 4.3 respectively. Compared to a state incidence rate of 9.3.

While the incidence rate of arson generally was 43.9 in Tweed, 44.8 in Ballina and 43.8 in Byron shires. Compared to a state incidence rate of 56.1.

White supremacists said to hail from southern Queensland took a trip across the border into the Northern Rivers region in order to display their ignorance & racism to the world

 

ABC News, 5 November 2024:

The white supremacist group said they had travelled from Queensland to the mountain. (Supplied)

Police are investigating after a group of white supremacists posted on social media that they had staged a rally at a sacred Indigenous site in northern New South Wales.

Warning: This story may be offensive to some readers.

More than a dozen members of the balaclava-wearing group posted images on social media platform X on October 31, which they suggested were taken on a weekend at Wollumbin Mountain, formerly known as Mount Warning.

The site, which includes a summit track, is regarded as sacred to the Aboriginal community and remains closed to the public.

The group carried a flag consistent with the neo-Nazi National Socialist Network and held a banner which read, "Mt Warning for the White Man".

The men erected a sign with white supremacist messaging up at Wollumbin Mountain. (Supplied)

"Members of the National Socialist Network in Queensland travelled to climb Mount Warning last weekend," the post on X, formerly known as Twitter, said.

"White Australians established and maintained the trail for nearly a century and White Australians will decide who climbs it.

"Mt Warning for the White man!"

'Vile demonstration not welcome'

NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe described the actions as "vile" and "utterly disgusting", with National Parks referring the matter to police.

"I condemn those involved," the minister said in a statement.

"It is not acceptable anywhere in NSW, whether it be a sacred Indigenous site or on our city streets.

"To these far-right extremists and neo-Nazis, who are reportedly from Queensland, you and your vile demonstration are not welcome in NSW.

"Any attempts to spread hate are taken extremely seriously. I ask anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers," she said....

On the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service website, Wollumbin is described as "highly significant to Aboriginal people, particularly the Bundjalung nation, as a place of sacred ceremonies linked to traditional law and custom".

"Wollumbin (Mount Warning) summit track and Aboriginal Place remains closed. Decisions about the future of the summit track will be made by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service in accordance with the wishes of the Aboriginal custodians," it said.

This is not the first time this year that people have deliberately chosen to give offence and inflict hurt on the Aboriginal custodians of this sacred mountain.

In August 2024, former Young Liberal and 27 year member of the Liberal Party of Australia before being elected to the NSW Legislative Assembly as a member of the Libertarian Party, John Riddick and his Libertarian mate Marc Hendrickx, in an ignorant act of defiance and self-promotion climbed Wollumbin.

IMAGE: The Daily Mail, 3 August 2024

It's 2024 and after 236 years of relentless urban expansion across New South Wales there are only 13 breeding pairs of Beach Stone Curlew left in the state

ECHO, 5 November 2024:

A pair of critically endangered beach stone-curlews are nesting in the dunes on Clarkes Beach, they are one of only 13 breeding pairs in NSW.

Beachgoers are asked to stay off the sand dunes and leave nesting birds alone as their nests are just a small area of scraped sand.

‘It’s so important these birds are not disturbed because they only lay one egg and the chick is cared for by both parents for seven to 12 months,’ said Chloe Dowsett, Coast and Biodiversity Coordinator.

‘We are hoping people will do the right thing and play their part in helping these special birds expand their family.’

On other beaches spotted pardalotes and rainbow bee-eaters have been sighted nesting in the dunes with the Byron Bird Buddies rescuing a group of baby bee-eaters as the area surrounding their nest was being damaged by people trampling and climbing on the exposed dune.

‘All of these precious birds are easily disturbed by walkers, joggers and especially dogs so we are asking people to be aware and take extra care when they are on the beach,’ Ms Dowsett said.

Another Electric Vehicle Charging Station for the NSW Northern Rivers

 

Earlier this year in May 2024 the NSW Minns Labor Government announced that 671 new EV public kerbside electric vehicle charging ports at 391 sites are to be installed across NSW, in what is expected to be the largest rollout in the country.

These new chargers are to be installed over the next 12-months and be open to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

However, looking at the NSW Transport Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Map it looks a though there are only around 31 stations across the entire 20,758 sq kms of the Northern Rivers region - from the Clarence Valley up to the NSW-Qld border and, many of these tend to be relatively clustered.

So it was good to read that another electric vehicle charging station had been added to the mix in north-east New South Wales.

ECHO, 1 November 2024:

A new electric vehicle (EV) charger has been installed at 44 Cherry Street, Ballina in the heart of the Ballina’s CBD, close to Northern Rivers Regional Art Gallery, shops, cafes, and other tourist destinations.

For anyone driving an EV the installation of new chargers, particularly in regional areas is a definite bonus as the number of EVs on the roads increases. The Australian Automobile Association’s EV Index shows that battery electric (BEV) and plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) sales represented 9.6 per cent of new light vehicles sold in the second quarter of 2024.

‘Ballina Shire Council is thrilled to celebrate the installation of new electric vehicle charging stations on Cherry Street in Ballina. This fantastic collaboration with Essential Energy and EVX reflects our dedication to working hand-in-hand with the community and industry to seek innovative and sustainable solutions for our region,’ said Ballina Shire Council Mayor, Sharon Cadwallader.....

In 2024 road fatalities in NSW rural & regional areas continue to outnumber those in metropolitan areas - at least 24 of these deaths occurred in the Northern river region

In 2024 from 1 January through to 23 October Transport NSW preliminary road fatality data recorded 245 fatal vehicle crashes across the state which caused 273 deaths - 20 of which occurred in the first 23 days of October.

The number of drivers killed outnumbered the combined total of passengers, pedestrians, motorcyclists & cyclists (139 to 134). While males far out number females among the dead (217 to 56). The largest road fatality by age cohort was the those 70 years of age and older.

Fatalities in country areas continue to outnumber those in metropolitan areas - 181 deaths on rural and regional roads compared to 92 deaths on metropolitan roads.

Up to the end of September this year the Australian Road Deaths Database revealed that NSW road fatalities included 24 deaths on Northern Rivers roads:

Clarence Valley - 8 people

Ballina Shire - 5 people

Tweed Shire - 4 people

Richmond Valley - 3 people

Lismore City - 3 people

Byron Shire - 1 person

Kyogle Shire - 0 persons.

The NSW Northern Rivers region is facing an intractable problem - property insurance in the global climate crisis

 

The Climate Risk Group published a report in June 2024 - Going Under: The imperative to act in Australia's high flood risk suburbs

The report looked looked at risk of damage from riverine flooding to residential homes across Australia in 2030 under RCP 8.5 scenario and its analysis covered over 14,739,901 individual addresses and 14,995 suburbs, focussing on homes identified as High Risk Properties (HRP) by 2030 - properties where insurance may become unaffordable or withdrawn completely.

The Climate Group's investigations found:

• By 2030, 588,857 Australian homes are considered to be High Risk Properties: they carry a high risk of flood cover becoming prohibitively expensive or withdrawn, i.e risk becoming uninsurable.

• NSW is by far the most impacted state, with 206,622 individual homes identified as being at high risk of becoming uninsurable by 2030.

• This compares with 382,235 homes in all other states put together.

This report identified nine urban settlement areas in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales as being at risk in this scenario.

Tweed Heads South, Chinderah, Ballina, West Ballina and Grafton are identified as Black Zone localities. Black Zone Suburbs are suburbs where over 80% of residential properties are at high risk of becoming uninsurable. In these zones, property buy-back and community relocation will have to be considered.

Tweed Heads, Tweed Heads West, Lismore, South Lismore and Yamba are identified as being Red Zone localities. Red Zone Suburbs are suburbs where 50-80% of residential properties are at high risk of becoming uninsurable. With investment in adaptation these zones could still be viable.

On 16 May 2024, the Australian Senate created the Select Committee on the Impact of Climate Risk on Insurance Premiums and Availability. The committee is currently conducting an inquiry into the Impact of Climate Risk on Insurance Premiums and Availability and is to present a final report to parliament by 19 November 2024.

The Insurance Council of Australia has informed this inquiry of the industry's assessment of the national situation:

> Worsening extreme weather events, expansion of development in high-risk areas, growing asset values and higher inflation, particularly in the construction sector, are putting upward pressure on the affordability of insurance in Australia and across markets globally. This is widening the gap between those who can afford insurance and those who can’t, particularly in areas most vulnerable to extreme weather risk.

> To address insurance affordability over the short- to medium-term, it will be critical to continue to strengthen the resilience of communities and businesses so that they can better withstand the disasters Australia is already experiencing. This includes bolstering investment in resilience enhancing infrastructure, strengthening our building stock, and reforming land use planning to improve community safety and affordability when building new homes. After peril risk, the second biggest component of the cost of insurance premiums is taxation; the removal of state insurance taxes will also be an essential reform to provide immediate cost of living relief.

> Over the longer-term, in addition to consistent resilience investment, industry and governments need to continue to tackle the underlying driver of worsening extreme weather, climate change, by maintaining a focus on achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

> The insurance industry, in partnership with governments and regulators, is at the forefront of working to close the protection gap. For example, the Australian Government’s Hazards Insurance Partnership (HIP), focuses on bringing industry and government together to identify the high-risk areas around the country where insurance affordability challenges are growing, and tests and targets the appropriate policy solutions. Insurers are also working with the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) to undertake a Climate Vulnerability Assessment focused on the impacts of a warming climate on the availability of general insurance. The ICA and its members have also led key industry initiatives, including releasing an industry-wide climate change roadmap and producing new economic and actuarial analysis focused on the costs of extreme weather, uplifting Australia’s building codes and standards and strengthening state and federal resilience investment.

Northern Rivers newspaper The Echo in an article titled Climate change pushes up insurance, families going uninsured on 8 October 2024:

Financial Rights Legal Centre Senior Policy and Communications Officer Julia Davis told the enquiry, ‘The problem of insurance in a changing climate has reached a point where the market is not going to solve these problems. It is time for government intervention.

‘The repercussions of these events extend beyond financial strain for consumers. The consequences have been deeply personal with individuals facing emotional stress, strained relationships and trauma.’

Ms Davis also said managing insurance claims was ‘nothing short of retraumatising’ for many consumers.

Financial Counsellors Australia National Coordinator for Disaster Recovery, Vicki Staff said her organisation had seen people being quoted over $60,000 per year for insurance.

‘They are now having to find an insurance product that doesn’t fully cover them for the natural perils they are the most at risk of,’ she said.

Widening gap

Insurance Council of Australia Chief Operating Officer Kylie McFarlane told the enquiry, ‘The widening gap between those who can afford insurance and those who can not, especially in areas vulnerable to extreme weather risk, is an issue that we need to address collectively.

‘Insurance prices risk, and the most effective way to reduce pressure on premiums and reduce the protection gap is to mitigate or eliminate those risks.

Four of the seven local governments in the NSW Northern Rivers region directly elect their mayors. Here is a brief look at the voting so far in the 2024 NSW Local Government Election

 

Four of the seven local governments in the NSW Northern Rivers region directly elect their mayors. Here is a brief look at the voting so far.

PLEASE NOTE: No local government election for mayor or councillors in the Northern Rivers region has been officially called.

All numbers and percentages set out below are as at close of counting on NSW local government election night, Saturday 13 September 2024. Counting resumes on Monday 16 September.

Byron Shire

In the Byron Council’s mayoralty election, with 17,660 formal votes counted, The Greens Sarah Ndiaye is in the lead with 6,129 first preference votes & 34.71% of the formal vote. Followed by the ALP's Asren Pugh with 5,363 first preference votes & 30.44% of the formal vote.

At close of counting last night in the Byron councillor elections, with only 7,504 formal votes counted it would appear that 5-candiate The Greens Group led by Sarah Ndiaye held 3,018 first preference votes & 40.22% of the formal vote. Followed by the 6-candiate ALP Group led by Asren Pugh with 2,097 first preference votes & 27.95% of the formal vote.

The full vote count can be viewed at

https://vtr.elections.nsw.gov.au/LG2401/byron/results

Ballina Shire

In Ballina Council’s mayoral election with 16,110 first preference votes counted so far Independent Sharon Cadwallader is in the lead with 7,263 first preference votes & 45.08% of the formal vote. Followed by The Green's Kiri Dicker with 4,154 first preference votes & 25.79% of the formal vote.

There are three Wards in the Ballina councillor elections. The full vote count can be viewed at https://vtr.elections.nsw.gov.au/LG2401/ballina/results

City of Lismore

At close of counting last night in Lismore Council's mayoral election with 18,621 formal votes counted, the nominally Independent Steve Kreig leads with 8,969 first preference votes & 48.17% of the formal vote. Followed by The Greens Vanessa Grindon-Ekins with 3,957 first preference votes & 21.25% of the formal vote.

Big Rob is coming in second to last in the mayoral election with 2,244 first preference votes & 12.05% of the formal vote.

In the councillor elections witn18,621 formal votes counted the 11-candidate Independent Group A led by Steve Kreig held 4,551 first preference votes & 42.39%. Followed by the 6-candidate The Greens Group D led by Adam Guise with 2,874 first preference votes & 26.77% of the formal vote.

The 5-candidate Independent Group C led by Big Rob with 1,180 first preference votes & 10.99% of the formal vote ranked last on election night.

The full vote count can be viewed at

https://vtr.elections.nsw.gov.au/LG2401/lismore/results

Richmond Valley

At close of counting last night in Richmond Valley Council's mayoral election with 7,439 formal votes counted, Independent Robert Mustow lead with 2,896 first preference votes & 38.93% of the formal vote. Followed by Independent Lyndall Murray with 2,021 first preference votes & 27.17% of the formal vote.

In the Richmond councillor elections with 3,305 formal votes counted, the 4-candidate Independent Group D led by Robert Mustow led with 1,369 first preference votes & 41.42% of the formal vote. Followed by the 7-candidate Independent Croup C led by Lyndall Murray with 849 first preference votes & 25.69% of the formal vote.

The full vote count can be viewed at

https://vtr.elections.nsw.gov.au/LG2401/richmond-valley/results

The battle continues to save Wallum Wetlands from further encroachment by developers

 

Clarence Property Corporation Limited - issuer of the PDS for Clarence Property Diversified Investment Trust (formerly Westlawn Property Trust) & Epig Lennox Property Trust - through its subsidiaries Clare Property Corporation Limited and Bayside Brunswick Pty Ltd continues to insist it has a right to swing its wrecking ball through what remains of natural landscapes in coastal areas of the NSW Northern Rivers region.

Currently it has eight largescale development projects in northern New South Wales listed on its website.

The Wallum development at Brunswick Heads is one of these sites and Lot 13 DP 1251383 and environs on Torakina Road, Brunswick Heads NSW, has been a bone of contention for years as the local community continues to resist this 'zombieDA'.

Wallum Land
IMAGE: Mac Maderski at savewallum.com

Vegetation mapping of Lot 13 DP 1251383 and environs

Echo, 29 August 2024:

Both opposing parties regarding the 126-housing Wallum development in Bayside, Brunswick Heads, are claiming a victory after the latest court decision, handed down on August 23 by Justice Bromwich.

In a statement, Save Wallum Inc, say the Federal Court upheld the stop-work injunction.

Spokesperson Svea Pitman said, ‘The main contest before the court at the further hearing of Save Wallum Inc’s interlocutory injunction application was the controversial construction of nine artificial frog ponds, which are proposed as part of the early development works’.

‘Justice Bromwich accepted that the construction of these ponds may pose a risk to the site’s Wallum sedge frog population, and has blocked any construction of the proposed ponds until a final determination of the matter.

‘The orders otherwise permit very limited works, including installation of bunting, regeneration of the seed bank along sandy tracks and weed maintenance – strictly without the use of weedicides’.

The trial is scheduled to begin October 14, Ms Pitman said.

Meanwhile, developer Clarence Property says it is ‘looking forward to progressing with its approved housing estate in the Byron Shire after the Federal Court injunction was amended to permit key works to continue’.

CEO Simon Kennedy repeated his comments around the ‘critical need for new housing in the shire that had been identified by Byron Shire Council’.

He said, ‘We believe the court’s ruling affirms our commitment to responsible development and environmental stewardship and we will continue to respect the legal process as we work towards the final determination of this matter in October’.

‘Our focus now is on ensuring safe access for our contractors and progressing with this essential project.’

Ms Pitman added, ‘This is another major win for our community and for the race to save this unique wallum ecosystem’.

High ecological value

Save Wallum advocates say they celebrated Friday’s outcome, ‘viewing it as a critical step toward protecting one of the last intact wallum heathland ecosystems in the Byron Shire’.

Ms Pitman added, ‘This is another major win for our community and for the race to save this unique wallum ecosystem’.

‘The high ecological value of this area is undeniable, with its floristic diversity, absence of invasive weeds, and the presence of so many threatened species’.

She continued, ‘Australia has the highest rate of mammal extinction globally, and in the Northern Rivers, we are on the frontline of the climate crisis.

‘It’s heartening to see the court’s decision ensuring that no destructive works can proceed at this stage.’

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Save Wallum Incorporated v Clarence Property Corporation Limited [2024] FCA 967 interim injunction ruling can be found at:

https://www8.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/cth/FCA/2024/967.html

A matter of two competing petitions to restore the NORCO milk contract with NSW Health. One an official e-petition guaranteed to be brought to the notice of the NSW Parliament, the other a political vanity petition the parliament may never consider. NSW residents can choose which they might sign

There is an e-petition currently before the NSW Parliament, Reinstate Norco as the Dairy Supplier for NSW North Coast Hospitals, created by Harper Dalton-Earls on 23 August 2024. 

Harper Dalton-Earls is the Labor candidate for Lismore City Council at the 14 September 2024 NSW local government elections.

This e-petition will be closed to signatures on 15 November 2024.

Labor MLA for Lismore Janelle Saffin has been an active supporter of the push to restore the NORCO milk contract and of this e-petition. 

Ms. Saffin also publicly called out the NSW Nationals MLAs Gurmesh Singh (Coffs Harbour), Richie Williamson (Clarence) and Michael Kemp (Oxley).

In an effort to draw oxygen from the e-petition to parliament on 26 August the NSW Nationals  announced their own petition accessed via their own website:

North Coast Nationals MPs have joined forces to launch a community petition calling on the Minns Labor Government to restore Norco Milk to health facilities across the Northern NSW and Mid North Coast Local Health Districts.

The petition was launched by Member for Clarence, Richie Williamson, Member for Coffs Harbour and Deputy Leader, Gurmesh Singh, and Member for Oxley, Michael Kemp at Andrew Wilson’s Lismore dairy farm.

The petition emphasises the significant impact on local farmers and communities and urges the Minns Labor Government to reverse its decision to remove Norco Milk from North Coast health facilities....

BACKGROUND

ECHO, 27 August 2024:

Lismore MP Janelle Saffin has come out swinging at conservative National Party representatives who have chosen not to support restoring local milk producer NORCOs contract to supply North Coast hospitals and health services.

The contract that NORCO held to supply local hospitals with milk was once again cancelled and HealthShare NSW awarded its state-wide milk supply contract to international supplier Dairy Farmers.

Ms Saffin said she is disappointed that three NSW Nationals MPs are not lending their support to a single e-petition to Parliament to restore NORCO’s contract.

‘Constituents have contacted me wondering why my fellow MPs Gurmesh Singh (Coffs Harbour), Richie Williamson (Clarence) and Michael Kemp (Oxley) are not backing in the e-petition launched last Friday,’ she said.

Kevin Hogan.

While Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan released a statement blaming the NSW Labor government for the decision it was the National Party who first made the decision in to end the contract.

‘When the Nationals were in government and the same thing happened, we all backed in the then local member Thomas George and the Health Services Union ran a big campaign, fully supported by the community and after some time, people power changed the decision of the then bureaucracy,’ explained Ms Saffin.

‘It is people power we need this time as well to support our local NORCO employees and dairy farmer suppliers who are part and parcel of the NORCO dairy co-operative. We need 20,000 signatures to get this issue debated on the floor of Parliament and that is powerful. To have two separate petitions in circulation is already leading to confusion in the community and effectively weakens our chances of getting the required number of signatures.’

NORCO is Australia’s largest and oldest dairy co-operative and supports 190 local farms, buying their milk and creating premium products that are celebrated as ‘Australia’s best tasting milk’ at Dairy Australia’s, Grand Dairy Awards in 2023.

‘We’re talking about Australia’s last 100 per cent farmer owned dairy cooperative that provides an economic lifeline to hundreds of families in a region that has experienced the double whammy of floods and the cost-of-living crisis,’ said HSU (Health Services) secretary Gerard Hayes.

‘This is not the time to cut off a trusted local company with deep roots – We’ve even heard reports of patients refusing to drink the hospital milk unless it’s NORCO, which shows you how deeply the community feels about this!’

Ms Saffin as reiterated that, ‘It was the bureaucracy that made this recent decision to award the tender to a different supplier, but I, on behalf of the community, expect the Minister for Health and Regional Health (Ryan Park) to work out a way to fix it.’

‘That means NORCO getting its contract back as it was to deliver its products into the North Coast Hospitals and Health Services.’

Sign the petition here.