The Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA) has welcomed the recent NSW Coalition Shadow Ministry re-shuffle.
CMA Chairman, Mayor Rick Firman OAM (Temora Shire) said the Board and our 89 Members especially welcomed the appointment of a Shadow Minister responsible for Prevention of Regional Crime. “Obviously crime is a serious issue for several of our CMA Member Councils. To see a Shadow Ministry specifically for Regional Crime Prevention is encouraging. We look forward to meeting with Shadow Minister, Mr Brendan Moylan MP to discuss our Members’ concerns,” Mayor Firman said.
“We thank now former Shadow Minister for Local Government, The Hon Chris Rath MLC for giving us his time. We wish him well in his new portfolio areas of Planning, Public Spaces, Housing, Cities the Arts and the Illawarra & South Coast’,” he added.
“The CMA welcomes the appointment of our new Shadow Minister for Local Government, Mr Tim James MP. Although Mr James doesn’t appear to have any local government experience, from what we understand, we are impressed he has immersed himself in community organisations over an extended period. We also appreciate that he has promptly arranged to meet with us.”
“It’s very disappointing, however, that the Coalition has moved away from Local Government as a stand-alone portfolio. Local Government is integral to the provision of services and facilities to every person that lives in NSW. We strongly believe that the sector deserves a Shadow Minister whose primary focus is on working with the us to achieve positive outcomes for the residents we all represent,” Mayor Firman said.
The retention of the Regional Health portfolio was also warmly welcomed. “The CMA strongly advocated for this when the former Mayor of Parkes Shire, Mr Ken Keith OAM was our Chairman, the then Government adopted it, which was terrific. Mrs Bronnie Taylor being the inaugural Minister for Regional Health did a top job. We were very pleased that the current Government chose to retain the portfolio, albeit as one of the responsibilities that our Minister for Health, the Hon Ryan Park holds. The CMA firmly believes that the unique challenges of delivering health and allied services in remote, rural and regional NSW deserves its own portfolio and focus”.
‘Overall, this appears to be a good team of Shadow Ministers, with experience and new blood included. Our CMA Board and Members look forward to working with the Government and Shadow Ministry as we formulate our March 2027 State Election priorities. Financial sustainability, combined with cost shifting are priority issues for most Members. It’s critical the status quo doesn’t continue, as most of our rural, remote and regional Member Councils cannot continue on the trajectory we’re on – something has to give. The CMA will continue to work as hard as we can to help be part of the suite of solutions, however, we need urgent reform from our State & Federal Governments that recognises and addresses our concerns about NSW Local Government’s financial sustainability”, Mayor Firman concluded.
The CMA has formally invited the new Coalition Leaders in Ms Kellie Sloane MP (NSW Liberal Party Leader) and Mr Gurmesh Singh MP (NSW National Party Leader) to meet with the Board and Members, early in this new year.
Media Release: Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA)
