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Editorial
  • Opinion

What can the agriculture commissioner achieve that the NSW minister cannot?

OPINION: At a time when top tier spending should be cut back, the NSW Labor government is intent on spending more and what for what purpose? The government recently announced the creation of an Independent Agriculture Commissioner to oversee agricultural matters including productivity, land use conflict and food security. But is this not the role of the NSW Minister for Agriculture, Tara Moriarty? According to the Parliament of NSW, Ministers are responsible for the effectiveness and efficiency of the agencies within their portfolio. Working with the appointed heads of these agencies, they implement government policy and ensure agencies meet their […]

Nov 7, 2024

Editorial: Gunnedah benched for priority in government funding

OPINION: Road funding is being fast-tracked to local governments across the state but it appears Gunnedah Shire Council may need to wait a little longer yet. A new pilot scheme to speed up disaster assistance payments to select local councils has delivered $296 million in funding in just three months, according to the NSW government. Before the introduction of the new program, councils in the pilot had to spend their own money repairing infrastructure before they could be reimbursed with the disaster funding which has come from the Australian and NSW governments through Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). In March, […]

Aug 2, 2024

  • 2024 Gunnedah Show

Editorial: The camel racing experience

OPINION: When first asked whether I’d be willing to ride a camel, I thought the show committee was having a laugh. It was only when pressed further I started to realise they were serious – racing camels were headed for the Gunnedah Show and organisers needed a few punters to give it a go. Before I could say boo, it looked like I was already drafted into the camel jockey nomination list. My only prior experience with camels was as a spectator in Port Macquarie as sightseers saddled up for a saunter along Lighthouse Beach. I’d barely even ridden a […]

Apr 20, 2024

Editorial: Ditch the Vegas roof for more roads

OPINION: News this week the NSW government is “seriously looking” at plans to build a Las Vegas-styled roof over a Sydney sports stadium had many coughing up their cornflakes in utter disbelief – this masthead included. When the government refuses to up the funding balance to build the Gunnedah Hospital as originally planned – a critical piece of life-saving health infrastructure in this district – then floats this frivolous idea to pimp out one of its three football stadiums in Sydney town, is beyond the pale. Plus, I have no doubt every Gunnedah resident could give you an opinion about […]

Mar 8, 2024

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