State Matters - 31 March 2025
- Dave Layzell MP
- Apr 2
- 6 min read
OFFICE CHANGES
THIS WEEK will see the Upper Hunter Electorate Office relocate to new premises with most of the ways to contact me to remain the same.
The member’s office in Bridge Street Muswellbrook is now closed and I thank all constituents who have taken time to visit the location over the years.
Following this week’s move, the office will be located at 94 John Street Singleton with my staff and I looking forward to meeting constituents there from next week.
A change of location does not change the service that can provided by the office, so if you require assistance with a matter involving the NSW Government please email upperhunter@parliament.nsw.gov.au or call 6543 1065.
BACK ONE HOUR
The wait to return to Eastern Standard Time is over this weekend when clocks can be turned back one hour to end the 2024-25 daylight saving period.
For those adjusting the clock, at 3am Sunday 6 April, time goes back one hour to 2am and dawn will be earlier than it has been in recent weeks.
The official explanation for daylight saving in NSW is that it makes better use of daylight during the warmer months, provides more daylight for outdoor activities after work or school and reduces energy consumption by cutting the need for artificial lighting in the evening.
A petition presented to the NSW Parliament in October last year proposed just four months of daylight saving between the first Sundays of November and March.
The Minns Labor Government responded advising there are currently no plans to make legislative changes to the provisions relating to Australian Eastern Daylight Time in NSW.
TRACKWORK ADVICE
Hunter Line train travellers are reminded to check Transport for NSW Travel Alerts whilst
the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) conducts work on the line this week.
The Hunter Valley line between Kooragang Island and Scone, and between Muswellbrook and Ulan is closed for maintenance and improvements from 6.30am Tuesday 1 April to 6.30am Friday 4.
Additionally, the line between Scone and Turrawan is closed from 6.30am Monday 31 March to 6.30am Friday 4 April.
Buses replace trains between Scone and Maitland between 4am Tuesday to 7.30am Friday.
Tuesday to Thursday, nightly from 7.20pm to 4.30am, buses replace all trains between Scone, Dungog and Newcastle Interchange.
Trains between Dungog, Maitland and Newcastle Interchange may run to a changed timetable.
Replacement buses for trackwork may be affected by driver shortages.
Coaches replace NSW TrainLink services and travellers should visit https://transportnsw.info or call 13 22 32 for assistance to plan their journey.
Signage and traffic control will be in place at any locations where motorists may experience short delays due to crossing works or adjacent corridor works.
Information on road closures and alternative routes can be found at www.livetraffic.com
FLOOD RECOGITION
The extraordinary response efforts during the major NSW flood events between 2021 and 2023 will be recognised with the Premier’s Flood Emergency Citation.
The citation will be awarded to organisations such as the members of the NSW State Emergency Service (SES), other emergency agencies, defence force personnel and other community-based organisations.
NSW SES will administer the awards for specific events such as the Hunter Valley and Greater Sydney floods of June-July 2022, as well as, the Northern NSW and Hawkesbury Nepean Valley floods of February-April 2022.
Informal or spontaneous volunteers, whose efforts were not as part of an eligible organisation, can self-nominate.
Recipients of the citation will receive a letter and certificate co-signed by the NSW Premier, NSW Minister for Emergency Services and the NSW SES Commissioner, along with a citation pin.
The NSW SES will contact eligible organisations directly to submit nominations on behalf of members.
To nominate as an individual for the Premier’s Flood Emergency Citation visit:
YOUTH CRIME BILL
The NSW Nationals and Liberals are pushing for strong and immediate legislative reform to stop repeat serious youth offenders from carrying out crime sprees across regional NSW.
Shadow Attorney General Alister Henskens has introduced the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Youth Crime) Bill 2025 in Parliament after in-depth collaboration between Opposition MPs.
It will offer stronger measures than Labor’s recent changes to the Bail Act, by expanding the definition of repeat offences beyond serious break and enter and motor vehicle theft, to include all serious indictable offences like murder or sexual assault.
It proposes introducing electronic monitoring and a mandatory curfew as conditions of bail, revokes bail if there is a breach of bail conditions and elevates the voice of victims in the court through the use of victim impact statements.
NSW Nationals Leader Dugald Saunders said the door is open to more reforms and the Coalition will continue discussions around potential changes to doli incapax along with diversionary programs.
IN THE HOUSE
The March sittings of the NSW Parliament allowed me to thank Bureen Rural Fire Service (RFS) Captain Garry O'Hara with a Community Recognition Statement.
I recently presented Garry with the NSW Government Community Service Award to recognise his 60 years of fighting bushfires, assisted during floods, attending motor vehicle crashes and delivering Christmas spirit with the annual Santa lolly run.
Hunter Valley School Transport Services were also put into the spotlight thanks to parents, especially from the Branxton area, raising their concerns with me.
I also acknowledged Ashley Borg, the new principal of Rosary Park Primary School, Branxton, for writing to me to express his concerns after observing the bus situation at the school for the past six weeks or so.
The Nationals and Liberals in government undertook the Rural and Regional Bus Seatbelt Program and even I, as the Shadow Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, admit there is still more to be done.
Branxton and Upper Hunter parents have been heard, and I will endeavour to ensure that their children—our children—can travel safely to and from school.
NATURAL RESOURCES REVIEW
An independent review is being undertaking by the Natural Resources Commission on options to further protect and restore biodiversity and ecosystem functions in regional landscapes and enhance value and support for landholders.
This is your opportunity to comment on any issues within the scope of the review’s Terms of Reference, including the most significant action to protect and restore biodiversity and ecosystem function on private lands.
How soil, water and vegetation management can be further improved to protect and restore biodiversity and the most effective way to further support and enable landholders to deliver sustainable land management and production outcomes.
The Commission’s work will be informed by an advisory panel, stakeholder consultation, and relevant work such as critically endangered ecological communities and non-woody vegetation reviews.
A final report will be delivered to the NSW Government in March 2026 with feedback for the independent review to be submitted by Sunday 27 April at:
INPUT ON PRIMARY INDUSTRIES
Stakeholders are being called on to provide feedback on the development of an industry-wide strategy designed to create a more resilient and skilled NSW primary industries workforce.
The consultation aims to ensure NSW agriculture and primary industries have a workforce suited for the constant changes within the State’s $20 billion primary industries sector.
Key stakeholders across the agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture and forestry industries are being consulted and are urged to review and provide advice and input into the proposed Workforce Strategy 2025-2030 to ensure it is fit for purpose.
The proposed strategy identifies three key priority areas for government and industry to concentrate their actions, including improving business management, adaptability and innovation, fostering a diverse workforce accessible across the state and building on careers and capabilities across the industry.
You can provide input via the Have Your Say website by 30 April:
SCHOOL HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES
The NSW Government’s Holiday Break program will ensure free activities for young people across regional NSW including the Upper Hunter electorate during the upcoming autumn school holiday.
The program ensures that young people in regional areas have opportunities to stay engaged and make the most of their school holiday with enriching, educational and enjoyable experiences regardless of financial barriers.
Singleton Council has plans for art workshops and outdoor cinema whilst Upper Hunter Youth Services will hold a youth meditation and wellbeing session.
Further details at: www.nsw.gov.au/regional-nsw/holiday-fun-for-regional-youth/hunter-holiday-break-activities
And, the NSW Parliament is hosting the Festival of Democracy during the April School Holiday in Macquarie Street Sydney.
The free event on Tuesday 15 April will be perfect for children aged from 5 to 12 years with activities between 9.30am and 3.00pm.
For more on the Parliament of NSW Festival of Democracy 2025 go to: www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/visit/events/Pages/Festival-of-Democracy-2025.aspx
NOW ON DISPLAY
Set aside time over coming weeks to view the Muswellbrook Art Prize 2025 which is now on display until 24 May.
Established in 1958, the Muswellbrook Art Prize is a now $70,000 acquisitive prize across the categories of painting, works on paper and ceramics.
Astute adjudication of the Prize over the years has yielded an excellent collection of modern and contemporary Australian paintings, works on paper, and ceramics from the Post War period of the 20th Century and into the 21st Century.
The winning acquisitive works form the nucleus of what is now known as the Muswellbrook Shire Art Collection.
Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre located at 1-3 Bridge Street, Muswellbrook showcases the collection Monday to Saturday, 10am-4pm: https://artgallery.muswellbrook.nsw.gov.au
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