State Matters - 24 August 2026
- Dave Layzell MP
- 12 minutes ago
- 8 min read
NEW RECRUITS
TEN new probationary constables have been assigned to the Upper Hunter electorate following the latest NSW Police Force graduation.
The graduating students of Class 369 begin their first day at police stations across the state on Monday 24 August.
Port Stephens-Hunter Police District receives four of the attesting students with
Hunter Valley and the Manning-Great Lakes Police Districts receiving three probationary constables each.
For the next 12 months, the new recruits complete on-the-job training and study by distance education then officially graduate with an Associate Degree in Policing Practice and will be confirmed to the rank of Constable.
EARLY BUSHFIRE DANGER
The Liverpool Range District, which includes the Upper Hunter Shire Council local government area, will have its Bush Fire Danger Period (BFDP) commence on 1 September.
This aligns with several neighbouring districts that will also commence their Danger Period next month, while all remaining districts retain the standard commencement date of 1 October.
The earlier commencement of the BFDP will see fire permit in place to ensure burning activities are conducted safely and appropriately under current and forecast seasonal conditions.
For further information about the Danger Period or the fire permit process and applications, contact the Liverpool Range District Office on 6746 5800 or visiting the NSW RFS website: www.rfs.nsw.gov.au
The RFS has also issued a reminder ahead of the upcoming fire season to please keep drones away from bush and grass fires.
If a drone is operating near a fire, firefighting aircraft will be unable to safely operate, impacting the RFS’s ability to support crews on the ground and protect the community.
WINE SUCCESS
Congratulations to Upper Hunter electorate wine producers, Dalwood Estate and Margan, for their success in the 2027 Halliday Wine Companion Awards.
Dalwood Estate won the inaugural Fiano of the Year for its Dalwood Estate Fiano 2025 and Margan was awarded the trophy for Other Reds and Blends of the Year for its Saxonvale Mourvèdre 2024.
The announcement of the awards coincides with the release of the Australian wine industry’s revered rankings in The Halliday Wine Companion 2027.
The 41st annual release features comprehensive reviews and judges' tasting notes from the best wines reviewed across the year, with each winery given a star rating out of five.
Dalwood Estate near Branxton is regarding as the birthplace of Hunter Valley wine and Australia’s longest running commercial vineyard.
The accolade for Andrew, Lisa and son Ollie comes as the Margans celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Broke Fordwich label which is firmly established as a family food and wine business.
OPERATION DEVIL ARK
Rural crime was the focus of a recent NSW Police operation focussed on Murrurundi, Wingen, Barrington Tops, Stewarts Brook and Scone.
The Hunter Valley Rural Crime Prevention Team was assisted by Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, Hunter Valley Police District, Port Stephens Hunter Police District, and NSW Hunting personnel from Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
The operation forms part of an ongoing commitment to prevent and disrupt rural crime, improve firearm compliance and ensure the safety of rural communities.
As part of the operation between Thursday, 13 August, and Sunday,16 August, officers conducted several firearm safe storage inspections, livestock carrier inspections plus stopped and searched a number of hunting vehicles for compliance with movement of firearms within vehicles.
A total of 22 infringement notices were issued for a range of traffic offences.
The Rural Crime Prevention Team has commended the vast majority of people they interacted with for their appreciation of what investigators do, for storing and handling their firearms in accordance with the legislative requirements and generally doing the right thing.
PARLIAMENT PROMISE
A NSW Nationals and Liberals Government will establish a Regional Parliament in its first year, delivering on a commitment to reconnect with the communities that sustain the state.
Under the policy, the NSW Parliament will sit for a full week in a regional city, with both the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council conducting Question Time, debating legislation and undertaking the full business of Parliament outside Sydney.
Under the plan the host regional centre would be selected following a transparent, competitive process overseen by a multi-party parliamentary committee.
Communities would then have the opportunity to bid to host Parliament, showcasing their region, industries and local priorities.
The initiative would also deliver significant economic benefits to host locations beyond the immediate economic injection, with the annual sitting placing a national spotlight on the host region, showcasing its industries, attractions and investment opportunities to the rest of the state.
WHAT ARE YOU INHALING?
The NSW Legislative Council’s Justice and Communities Committee has tabled its report entitled 'Illegal tobacco trade'.
The committee's 11 recommendations focus on reducing the illegal tobacco market, strengthening enforcement, improving regulation, and increasing Australian Government support for states dealing with the consequences of the illicit tobacco trade.
Meanwhile, the 16 findings are underpinned by a harm minimisation approach, concluding that current tobacco and vaping policies have unintentionally contributed to the growth of a substantial black market, with significant consequences for public health, law enforcement, and legitimate businesses.
The committee concluded the growing illegal tobacco trade poses a serious threat not just for NSW but to all of Australia.
Recent estimates indicate that the illicit trade accounts for as much as 60 per cent of the total tobacco market, which means that a significant number of smokers are consuming illicit products that are not subject to any regulatory controls.
See the report, at: www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/parliamentary-business/committees/reports-and-government-responses
TRY THIS APP
NSW Health is encouraging us to familiarise ourselves with Symptom Checker, which is free, trusted health advice available anytime, anywhere.
Enter your symptoms into Symptom Checker to be connected to the care you need.
It will ask questions about your symptoms, which takes an average of six minutes.
It cannot give you a diagnosis and is not a substitute for professional healthcare.
The Symptom Checker will advise if you should see a doctor or care for yourself at home including connecting you to a doctor online or helping you to find a nearby GP, pharmacist or urgent care service.
So, whether it’s for a sick child or you are unsure where to go because you are feeling unwell, check your symptoms by going to: www.healthdirect.gov.au/symptom-checker
BIRD FLU ADVICE
Public reporting is an important part of the current response to bird flu, with calls to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline critical to support detection efforts.
If you see multiple sick or dead birds or other animals, do not touch them, use your mobile telephone camera to record what you see, then report it to the Hotline.
Bird flu has not been detected in commercial poultry flocks or captive birds anywhere in Australia and the risk to human health remains low.
Following the announcement by the Australian Government that an H5 avian influenza vaccine has been approved for use in native birds, the NSW Government is advancing plans to vaccinate priority captive native species to help safeguard vulnerable wildlife populations.
Priority species identified for potential vaccination include little penguins and regent honeyeaters.
Vaccination of other species will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, informed by the available science and evidence, plus disease risk, conservation value and practicalities of vaccination.
Vaccination is one tool but is not a silver bullet and is one part of the broader H5 response.
Report suspected H5 bird flu immediately to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.
Also check: www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/pests-diseases-weeds/animal/avian-influenza/report and: www.nsw.gov.au/regional-and-primary-industries/livestock/health-diseases/emergency-animal-diseases
DATA CENTRE CONSULTATION
Proposed reforms to electricity network regulation for data centres are currently being reviewed by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
Data centres are a key investment opportunity for the state and as electricity demand from the sector grows, the NSW Government wants to ensure that households and businesses are not paying costs for the infrastructure needed to support them.
The government is proposing regulatory reforms that seek to ensure data centres can be efficiently connected and supplied electricity without increasing electricity prices and risks for households and small businesses.
The reforms aim to improve network connections and planning, improve network cost allocation and recovery and support implementation measures in the NSW Data Centre Guidelines.
A consultation paper ‘Reforming electricity network connection and cost recovery arrangements for data centres in NSW’ is now available with public feedback to close on 14 September: www.energy.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2026-08/202608-consultation-paper-reforming-electricity-network-data-centres.pdf
NEREZ INPUT
The New England Renewable Energy Zone (NEREZ) mobile office will be in Scone and Muswellbrook next month.
Upper Hunter Shire Council is the location on Tuesday, 15 September, 9am-12 pm and 1-4 pm, then Muswellbrook Library on Wednesday, 16 September, 10.30 am-1 pm and 2-5 pm.
The mobile office visit comes with consultation currently underway until 18 September on the New England Renewable Energy Zone Community and Employment Benefit Program.
An initial $60 million is available through the program which will invest in projects and programs that deliver legacy outcomes for the region.
Feedback is being sought from local communities, councils and First Nations groups on how the program is designed and delivered.
Participate in the consultation by going to:
NIGHT ROADWORK
The intersection of Denman Road and Bengalla Road, Muswellbrook is the location of night roadwork this week as part of the Port of Newcastle to Renewable Energy Zone project.
One night shift on Wednesday, 26 August, will be required to complete line marking on the road, weather permitting.
To reduce the impacts on traffic and ensure the safety of workers and motorists, work will be completed overnight between 6pm Wednesday and 7am Thursday.
During the work there will be traffic control, temporary lane closures and machinery operating adjacent to, or on the road.
Lane closures will vary as the work progresses with access for road users to be maintained.
Motorists are asked to observe speed limits, follow the directions of traffic controllers and signs, plan ahead and allow extra travel time.
For the latest updates, visit www.livetraffic.com or call 132 701.
UPPER HUNTER IN FOCUS!
The Upper Hunter electorate has a unique opportunity to showcase itself with Newcastle Airport inviting communities to turn the camera on the place they call home.
A new photography competition to celebrate World Photography Day is providing the chance to showcase the region through the eyes of the people who know it best.
Photographers can enter across five categories including Junior, Youth, Community, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and Aviation, with each category winner receiving a $500 Newcastle Airport travel voucher.
Shortlisted photographs will also go into the running for the People’s Choice Award, with another $500 travel voucher up for grabs.
Winning and shortlisted images will have the opportunity to be displayed throughout Newcastle Airport, featured across the Airport's digital and social media channels, and showcased in a dedicated terminal exhibition celebrating the beauty and diversity of the Hunter.
Entries close on Sunday, 18 October, with finalists announced in early November.
For full competition details, categories and entry information visit:
ARTISTS ALSO REQUIRED
The Tenants’ Union of NSW has put a call out to artists living in social housing to contributecover art for its new Social Housing Kit.
The new publication is being worked on by educators and legal experts from the Tenants' Union and the Network of Tenants Advice and Advocacy Services.
A fee of $500 is on offer to the successful artist, who must be a current tenant living in public or community housing in NSW with the work suitable for reproduction online and in print.
The brief is to evoke the themes of knowing your rights and/or making a home in social housing and should be in portrait dimensions – A4 or A5 size would be best.
You can use any medium – paint, drawing, collage, illustration and may use computer illustration tools, but must not use AI image generation.
For more about the artwork being looking for, check: www.tenants.org.au/resources/all
with expressions of interest to close 6 September, at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScCMaEv0hIs8zeP2EpnechRh6ANedUhtcdUOdS8F7Y7V4Q9qg/viewform
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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