State Matters - 19 January 2026
- Dave Layzell MP
- 5 days ago
- 7 min read
NEW YEAR, NEW TASKS!
THE NSW Nationals and Liberals have refreshed the Shadow Ministry and I have been given new responsibilities for 2026.
I thank the Coalition for the confidence it has shown in me for my appointment as Shadow Minister for Mining and Natural Resources and Shadow Minister for Racing.
With just over 14 months until the next NSW Election, the new NSW Nationals and Liberals team will be focused on delivery, not slogans, and on presenting a serious and responsible alternative government.
The Shadow Ministry will deliver a long-term plan for the state that drives economic growth, restores reliable and high-quality services including trains and hospitals, strengthens support for families and households, continues infrastructure investment and presents credible solutions to the housing crisis.
AUSTRALIA DAY LONG WEEKEND
A reminder for motorists to be alert with double demerit points in force across the Australia Day Long Weekend.
Enforcement commences on Friday morning 23 January and continues until Monday night 26 January.
Double demerit offences apply for speeding, using a mobile phone illegally, riding without a helmet, not wearing or incorrectly wearing a seatbelt or carrying passengers not wearing or incorrectly wearing a seatbelt or restraint.
Get caught during the enforcement period and you face the loss of double the points, not double the fine.
In 2025, NSW recorded a total of 355 people dying on the state’s roads, 28 more deaths than for 2024, with speeding a contributing factor for 134 of last year’s crash deaths.
On roads where there is a speed limit sign, which is the maximum speed you can drive in good conditions, you must not drive faster than that speed regardless of the speed limit displayed by any other electronic device or mobile phone app.
And, a heads-up that 40km/h school zones operate on school development days which for Term 1, 2026 are between Tuesday 27 January to Friday 30 January.
SAFE STORAGE REMINDER
The NSW Police Force Rural Crime Prevention Team has renewed its reminder to firearms licence holders about the safe storage requirements for weapons.
Officers continue to see examples of non-compliant safes including flimsy lockers which do not have a three-point locking system and are only secured by an externally fitted lock and hasp, or pad bolt secured with a padlock.
If firearms are found to be stored in safes such as these, firearms may be seized, and license holders may have their firearms license suspended.
The firearms legislation sets out the responsibilities as a firearms owner in relation to safe storage including ensuring that the firearm is kept safe, is not lost or stolen and does not come into the possession of a person who is not authorised to possess the firearm.
If you have recently moved and not had your safe inspected, please contact your local police for a Safe Storage Inspection to be conducted: https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/online_services/firearms/safe_storage
ALLOWANCE INCREASE
Foster and kinship carers of vulnerable children in out-of-home care across NSW have received a 20 per cent increase to their care allowance.
The tax-free allowance rise, which commenced from 1 January, is designed to help carers manage rising cost of living pressures and support the children and young people in their care.
The increase benefits all authorised carers receiving statutory care, supported care, guardianship or adoption allowances supported by either the Department of Communities and Justice or non-government organisations.
This lift in the day-to-day expenses of caring for children, will see a carer of a typical 14-year-old receive $4,576 more per year, and a carer for a typical 5-year-old receive an additional $3,411 per year.
For more information, visit the NSW Government Community Services website:
REGISTER NOW!
The Upper Hunter will be one of the first locations this year to host the Rural Women’s Network Skills Roadshow.
Sixteen workshops are planned for the opening half of 2026, with Scone scheduled for 20-21 March.
Over 300 women participated in the free workshops last year, which empower regional and rural women with essential skills in first aid, and mental health crisis support through fee-free training with St John Ambulance.
The workshops include skills to respond effectively in emergency situations, recognise mental health issues, recognise situations where people may be in imminent crisis, provide appropriate interventions and learn where to direct people for further support.
A full day workshop will be offered for both First Aid and Mental Health in each location with
registrations for Scone now open:
APPLICATIONS OPEN
People interested in providing input into the future management of NSW national parks can now apply to join the National Parks and Wildlife Service’s (NPWS) regional advisory committees.
There are eight committees, one for each of the NPWS operational branches such as Hunter Central Coast, Blue Mountains and Northern Inland, with each committee having 12-17 members.
The committees have an important role as the voice of the local community and interest groups to help inform park management.
Current committees will see their term end on 30 June 2026 with prospective applicants for the next four-year term to apply by Monday 16 February.
To learn more and submit an expression of interest head to:
WATER METER TRAINING
Tradespeople can now upskill to meet the demand for qualified non-urban water meter installers through the new TAFE NSW Non-Urban Water Meter Installation course.
The course responds directly to the statewide shortage of accredited installers and new water regulations mandating accurate water measurement of rivers, creeks and groundwater take.
The fully-subsidised, online and self-paced microskill course, has been developed by TAFE in collaboration with NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) and WaterNSW.
It provides the essential skills and knowledge required for qualified tradespeople to work under the Trade Meter Installer (TMI) pathway, critical to supporting sustainable, compliant water use across the state.
On completion of the three-hour course, qualified tradespeople can apply to WaterNSW to be set up as Duly Qualified Persons (DQPs), certified to install, validate, and maintain non-urban water meters.
To check if you are eligible or to enrol, visit:
TIDY LITTLE EARNER
The former NSW Nationals and Liberals Government litter reduction initiative, Return and Earn, continues to be nice little earner for people across the state.
Latest figures show recyclers have now received $1.5 billion in refunds by returning a record 15 billion containers.
Enthusiasm for Return and Earn has seen the tally of bottles, cartons and cans returned through the network soar from 14 billion to 15 billion containers in less than six months.
Return and Earn has also become a key fundraising platform for charities and community groups, with over $91.5 million in container refund donations and fees from hosting return points since December 2017.
Preparations are underway to expand the scheme to accept wine and spirit bottles and larger drink containers from mid-2027.
HIVE OF KNOWLEDGE
Tocal College, Paterson has an important role to fulfill in the NSW Varroa Mite Management program which is commencing this month.
New honey bee compliance officers, a major research and development program and tailored education and resources are part of the NSW Government’s $9.5 million
commitment to the state’s honeybee and pollination-reliant industries.
Over $1 million is funding a comprehensive program of education and training resources for commercial and recreational beekeepers through Tocal College.
The initiatives will include a traineeship program to attract new workers to the beekeeping industry, chemical user training tailored for beekeepers and a short course on honeybee nutrition and seasonal management to support both honey production and pollination services.
Tocal College is part of NSW’s comprehensive program of ongoing support for the honey bee industry, being the nation’s leading provider of specialist education and training for the industry and home of the $2.8 million Bee Research and Training Centre.
More information on the National Varroa Mite Management Program, including online tools, resources and contacts, is available at: www.varroa.org.au
UNCLAIMED CASH
Almost $300 million is sitting in the NSW Government’s unclaimed money pool as the new year begins and it needs to be returned to the rightful owners.
Unclaimed money is money that you are legally entitled to, but where a business has not been able to find you.
Money becomes unclaimed when people forget to update their name or contact details with businesses, have lost paperwork, or when estates are unaware of funds belonging to deceased relatives.
The unclaimed money register, managed by Revenue NSW, includes funds from overpayments, uncashed cheques, dividends, refunds, and other amounts owed to individuals.
If you have money owing, you fill in a form and provide identification and your connection to the money with claims typically verified and processed within a month.
To find out if you have any unclaimed money, search the Revenue NSW website: www.revenue.nsw.gov.au/unclaimed-money.
SIGNIFICANT ANNIVERSARY
June 2026 marks 100 years since the Aberdeen Rail Disaster and Upper Hunter Shire Council Council is preparing to remember the tragedy.
Expressions of interest are currently being inviting from community members interested in participating in the Aberdeen Rail Disaster Commemoration Committee.
The commemoration will focus on recognising and honouring the remarkable response of Aberdeen community members who came together in the aftermath.
Any resident of the Upper Hunter Shire Local Government Area is welcome to nominate.
Nominations close on Friday 6 February with more information available at:
BRIDGE UPDATE
The newest road connection to the Upper Hunter Electorate is edging closer to completion with the new bridge deck laid for the Milton Morris Bridge at Melville near Maitland.
Floods in May and August last year caused damage to the partially constructed bridge and
required the removal of beams so that the construction contractor could inspect the piers and complete a repair plan.
Maitland City Council says a second concrete pour for the new deck late last year will strengthen the new structure and ensure it is better protected in the event of further flooding of the Hunter River.
Next steps will include guardrail and barrier works with construction on track to be completed in mid-2026.
Council has received funding from the NSW and Australian Governments towards the $10 million infrastructure project.
Contact:
Email address: upperhunter@parliament.nsw.gov.au;
New Address: 94 John Street Singleton 2330
Postal Address: PO Box 60 Singleton NSW 2330
Ph: 6543 1065
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