Local news for local people
Your Federal Member's Community Update
September 3, 2026
It’s
Show Time at Burraga!
The Burraga Sheep Show and Country Fair was a tremendous success, with Burraga Ag Bureau President Ann Milbank and her team doing an outstanding job hosting one of the biggest shows the event has ever seen!
The Ute show was going off (great work Crusty and the ute team!).
Now in its 66th year, the Burraga Show brings the community together for a terrific celebration of Burraga, agriculture, and how lucky we are to be living in such a wonderful part of Australia!
It’s an awesome start to the show season!
After unsuccessfully vetting to tame the mechanical bull, I took the opportunity to raise a new Aussie flag at the War Memorial in the park - just to keep Old Bluey flying high!
Well done Ann and the Ag Bureau team!
You just can’t beat a country show!
GOVERNMENT "FIRE SALE" OF HISTORIC BATHURST BARRACKS OPPOSED
I am totally opposed to the fire sale of Racecourse Barracks, Bathurst. Our veterans don't support it, our Australian Defence Force personnel don't support it, and I don't support it either. It's a very shortsighted move that must be reversed.
Racecourse Barracks in Bathurst is home to our local Army Reserve unit, the 1/19th, also known as the "Bushmen's Rifles". It's got a very long and proud history. While the Bushmen's Rifles is drawn from across Western New South Wales, selling off our Bathurst barracks will effectively lock out local residents from serving.
At a time when our Army Reserve is crying out for recruits, the government's actually making it harder for members of the Bushmen's Rifles to attend training. We should be building our reserve forces up, not knocking them down and selling off the essential local infrastructure they rely on.
You cannot expect to grow our regional defence forces while stripping away the very infrastructure that makes serving possible.
This decision is also fundamentally wrongheaded from a practical perspective. During World War II, Racecourse Barracks served as an armoured vehicle repair depot. Local veterans have informed me that there's all sorts of contaminated material buried on that site, so the government isn't going to be making a big return on it anyway.
It's baffling that we would decimate our local reserve units just to save on some lawnmowing fees.
On paper, the Canberra bean counters may see 23 hectares of housing sites, but the contamination means there's no motza to be made here. And if they had just consulted with our local veterans, they would have known that.
If a conflict ever breaks out in the future, we're going to need this site. The facility already boasts first-rate accommodation for about 80 people, lecture rooms, and a first-class, modern armoury.
On a broader scale, our veterans are furious that the government is also selling Victoria Barracks in Sydney, trading away our military history and infrastructure for a relatively small return.
If we want units like the Bushmen's Rifles to stay strong, you have to invest in our bases and make it easy for people to train together.
My message to the federal government and the Defence bean counters is crystal clear: this is a very poor decision, and the government needs to change course on this immediately.
They're going to be hearing a lot more from me until they do.
SKILLSET HONOURS LOCAL ACHIEVERS DURING NATIONAL SKILLS WEEK!
It was a privilege to attend the annual Skillset Training Awards and celebrate the incredible apprentices, trainees and businesses helping drive regional NSW forward.
Congratulations to all of this year's outstanding award recipients, whose hard work, dedication and commitment continue to strengthen our communities and industries across the region.
I had the honour of presenting the Joyce Hawkes Trainee of the Year Award to Christine Sims, a proud Kamilaroi woman hosted by the Regional Investment Corporation in Orange. Christine completed her qualification well ahead of schedule while balancing work, study, family commitments and representing NSW Country Rugby Union.
Special congratulations also to James Davidson of Oberon, hosted by B Moore Constructions, who was named the Gordon Hawkes Apprentice of the Year.
What an outstanding showcase of talent, determination and achievement across regional NSW.
NATIONAL MEALS ON WHEELS DAY!
Had a blast joining the legendary Meals on Wheels team and the 2BS B-Rock crew today at Meals on Wheels in Bathurst today!
Big thanks to Elisa and Tina for the tour and letting me have a crack at preparing some dessert packages.
And I gotta be honest - nothing beats a Meals on Wheels brownie!
On this National Meals on Wheels day, we celebrate the volunteers providing nourishment, care, and a friendly face to keep our seniors living independently.
With the high cost of living, this local lifeline needs our support now more than ever.
Get involved, volunteer, or lend a hand to keep this vital service moving!
Call: 02 6331 8231 to see how you can help
Authorised by Andrew Gee, MP, Suite 1/179A Anson Street, Orange NSW 2800
