Current Issues list

Agricultural & Environmental

• Advocate for the establishment of the Richmond River Koala Parks reserve, including State Public Native Forests in the Richmond Valley and southern Richmond Range, to provide safe habitat for vulnerable and endangered native flora and fauna and support population recovery.
• Advocate the NSW Government to regulate the sale of plants identified as weeds or with the potential to become weeds.
• Advocate for compulsory community consultation before test and/or exploratory drilling by mining companies is approved.
• Advocate for legislation to permit the lawful use of bore water for crop spraying where no other suitable water source is available.
• Advocate for mandatory country-of-origin labelling of all meat products served in hospitality outlets.
• Advocate for clear and accurate labelling of lab-grown meat products and prohibit the use of livestock-derived product descriptions for products not sourced from traditional livestock farming.
• Advocate the NSW Government to establish a dedicated funding stream for the Landcare Enabling Program to secure a permanent future for Landcare nurseries in NSW.
• Advocate for the adoption of best-practice invasive pest control methodologies consistent with CSIRO guidance and nationally endorsed pest and weed management frameworks.
• Urge the NSW Government to reform consultation processes for large-scale renewable energy developments to ensure communities have genuine influence over decisions, with transparent engagement conducted free from non-disclosure agreements.
• Oppose compulsory land acquisition by the NSW Government for linear infrastructure projects.

Education

• Advocate for and support the NSW Adult Literacy and Numeracy Council adult and child literacy programs and strategies to improve literacy outcomes across rural and remote communities.

Health & Social Security

• Advocate the NSW Government to provide health promotion material and mailed self-collection cervical screening kits to all eligible women aged 25 years and over.
• Advocate the Australian Government to remove parental income testing for financially independent young people under 22 years of age accessing Youth Allowance.
• Advocate for legislative reform to ensure children are protected by law from physical assault, including within the home.
• Advocate the NSW Government to provide widespread access to evidence-based parenting programs and support services promoting non-violent discipline strategies.
• Advocate the NSW Government to review and expand subsidy support for home enteral feeding, including formula, consumables and equipment.
• Advocate the NSW Government to recognise and support Griffith Base Hospital as a regional health precinct with enhanced local governance and administrative authority.
• Advocate the NSW Government to ensure new hospitals are fully staffed to operate at designed capacity and meet local healthcare needs.
• Advocate the Commonwealth Government to accelerate implementation of the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children 2022–2032.
• Advocate the Commonwealth Government to publish the locations of all newly funded endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics and prioritise clinics in rural and regional NSW.
• Advocate the Commonwealth Government to review and expand subsidised access to Botulinum toxin type A for medically indicated therapeutic use.
• Advocate the Commonwealth Government to review specialist medical fees and increase Medicare rebates to reduce patient out-of-pocket costs.
• Advocate all levels of government to provide trained caseworkers delivering face-to-face housing and mental health support to people experiencing homelessness.
• Advocate all levels of government to ensure timely access to emergency prefabricated shelters located near essential services and food assistance programs.
• Advocate the Commonwealth Government and the National Disability Insurance Agency to reverse reductions to NDIS travel reimbursements and rural provider loadings.
• Advocate improved national action on Q fever through increased education, expanded vaccination programs, inclusion of Q-VAX on the National Immunisation Program and recording on the Australian Immunisation Register.
• Advocate for automated external defibrillators to be installed in all police vehicles in NSW and the ACT.
• Advocate the Commonwealth Government and the National Disability Insurance Scheme to review pricing and funding arrangements to ensure fair indexation for allied health and disability support providers.
• Urge the Commonwealth Government to include pegcetacoplan (Syfovre) on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme for the treatment of geographic atrophy associated with age-related macular degeneration.
• Advocate reforms to residential aged care assessment and admission processes, including extended means-test validity periods, simplified applications and increased dementia-specific care places in rural, regional and remote communities.
• Advocate all levels of government to provide safe, secure and affordable accommodation for victim-survivors of domestic and family violence that accommodates small companion animals.
• Advocate the NSW Government to include travel and accommodation costs associated with participation in non-pharmaceutical clinical trials within IPTAAS eligibility criteria.
• Advocate aged care funding and service models that provide affordable, reliable and equitable transport support for older Australians, particularly in regional, rural and remote communities.
• Advocate the NSW Government to provide at least $15 million in ongoing annual core funding to the Royal Flying Doctor Service to support the delivery of essential health services in rural and remote NSW.

Transport & Telecommunications

• Advocate further investigation into the practical application, effectiveness and impacts of speed-limiting technology to reduce road trauma.
• Advocate stronger compliance with the National Heavy Vehicle Driver Competency Framework through mandatory training and certification for overseas heavy vehicle licence holders before driving in Australia.
• Advocate research and exploration of regulatory and design options to reduce the safety risks associated with overly bright vehicle headlights.
• Urge Australia Post to partner with stakeholders to develop and promote a standardised secure parcel-delivery receptacle suitable for rural and remote households.
• Lobby the NSW Government to adopt and promote the “Drive So Others Survive” road safety pledge as a key component of Road Safety Week.
• Urge the NSW Government and relevant authorities to prioritise sustainable long-term infrastructure solutions for critical arterial roads traversing the Great Dividing Range.

Miscellaneous

• Advocate local and state governments to accelerate and adequately fund severe weather risk identification, planning and mitigation, and to secure equitable access to disaster risk reduction funding.
• Urge the Australian Government to strengthen Australia’s fuel security by increasing domestic fuel storage capacity, maintaining refining capability and establishing a strategic fuel reserve.
• Urge the Australian Government to develop a national fuel security and allocation framework that prioritises fuel distribution to essential industries such as agriculture during supply disruptions.