Minister for the Arts Don Harwin and Member of the Legislative Council and Blue Mountains resident Shayne Mallard MP today announced that Varuna the National Writers House will receive $740,000 in long-term funding over the next 4 years to develop and deliver multiple arts and cultural activities. Continue reading

Today the Social Issues Committee inspected the Museum of Sydney, NSW State Archives at Kingswood and Elizabeth Farm at Parramatta as part of our inquiry into the state archives act and the proposal to merge the Sydney Living Museums and State Archives. Very illuminating site visits.  Continue reading

Today I announced the Campbell Rhododendron Gardens at Blackheath has received a $20,000 grant as a contribution toward restoration works following the recent devastating summer bushfires. Continue reading

Always complaining Trish Doyle doesn’t like the NSW Liberals investing in new trains and infrastructure in the Blue Mountains. Something Labor neglected in 16 wasted years in government. Continue reading

During our COVID19 pandemic we’ve seen all levels of government responding on a day to day and even hourly basis. It’s good to participate in a parliament funded seminar and workshop course on crisis leadership which is open to all NSW state MPs. Today we heard from Hon Gerry Brownlee MP via Zoom about the immediate and post crisis impacts of the two Christchurch earthquakes.  Continue reading

Welcome to Adjournment Notes. One of the exciting initiatives of the NSW Government after the State election was the creation of a Minister for Public Spaces.This is the first time NSW has had a Minister for Public Spaces who will identify and protect publicly owned land for use as parks or public spaces. Continue reading

I welcome the completion of the upgrades to the Blue Mountains train line. Blue Mountains commuters are to be congratulated for working cooperatively as the rail line and some stations have been upgraded to meet the same rail standards as the remaining Sydney network. Continue reading

Welcome to Adjournment Notes. We have finished the first half Parliamentary term and are into the winter recess in July. We started the year with catastrophic bushfires and now dealing with the impact of COVID-19 and being ever vigilant against a second wave of the deadly disease. Continue reading

It was very special to attend the naming ceremony of the Ngula Bulgarabang Regional Park formerly known as the Radiata Plateau. Ngula Bulgarabang translates to "a very large forest" and covers 300 hectares near Katoomba and includes some of the last undeveloped ship-shaped rocky headlands in that area of the western escarpment. Continue reading

I Chaired the second hearing of the Social Issues Committee Inquiry into the State Records Act 1998 and Policy Paper non its review on July 1.  Continue reading