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Children across the Dubbo electorate have once again unleashed their creativity in this year’s Christmas card design competition, with the theme of “your sporting Christmas” according to Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders.  Each year Mr Saunders calls for primary-school children across the electorate to help design his Christmas card, and this year St Laurence’s primary school in Dubbo took out first place!  Brianna Perera (11) was awarded the top prize with her amazing drawing of Santa playing cricket, along with a range of local references to sport.  Second place was taken out by Zoe Dalby (11) from Cudgegong […]

Six new probationary constables have started duties at the Orana Mid-Western Local Police District after attesting at a formal ceremony at the Goulburn Police Academy last Friday. Four officers are based in Dubbo, one in Coonamble and one in Coonabarabran.   Class 364 comprised of 298 new probationary constables including 218 men and 30 women.   Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said this region is a great place to start policing.  “I am delighted to welcome our newest police officers and commend them for choosing to serve our communities,” Mr Saunders said.  “Their commitment to fostering a safe and thriving

NSW Nationals Leader Dugald Saunders has vowed to make the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) its own separate business unit again if the Coalition is re-elected in 2027. He made the remarks during an address at the NSW Farmers Conference today, warning DPI is being watered down, after it was completely absorbed by the Department of Regional NSW (DRNSW). Mr Saunders labelled the changes made under Labor’s functional review as unfair, unreasonable and unnecessary.“DPI needs autonomy, and we have shown that’s what works best as we go through the cycle of droughts, floods, fires and major biosecurity outbreaks,” Mr Saunders

The NSW Opposition is calling on the Minns Labor Government to reverse a decision to replace hardwood power poles with composite poles. NSW Nationals Leader Dugald Saunders visited Coffs Harbour Hardwoods in Glenreagh today, alongside Shadow Minister for the North Coast Gurmesh Singh, Member for Clarence Richie Williamson, Member for Oxley Michael Kemp and industry representatives. They called on Environment Minister Penny Sharpe to intervene, to prevent a further increase in power prices, and to provide certainty to the timber industry.“Hardwood has been hard done by here. Not only will this untested product be worse for the household budget by

The NSW Opposition is calling on the Minns Labor Government to come clean on itsbiosecurity announcement that showed no new money across several key areas. The majority of the funding provided to respond to major agricultural threats in the2024/25 budget is leftovers from the 2023/24 allocation. Last year’s budget papers for example included $80m for the Red Imported Fire Antsresponse, but after just $25m was spent, the Agriculture Minister has re-announcedthe remaining $55.3m today. The same goes for supporting industries affected by varroa mite which had $36.2m ofthe initial $77.2m left over, while $6.2m of the $10.2m in white spot

16 May 2024 The NSW Opposition is calling on the Minns Labor Government to take strong and urgentaction on domestic violence, after it delayed strengthening the state’s bail laws.Liberal and Nationals MPs were prepared to push the Government’s new bail bill throughParliament this week, in order to increase protections for women and children as soon aspossible.But Labor and the Greens refused to back the move, which means the changes won’t belooked at for at least another month.NSW Nationals Leader and Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said weneed swift and decisive action when it comes to addressing the scourge

Today’s announcement of a restructure to the Department of Regional NSW is yetanother example of Chris Minns treating people from the regions as second-classcitizens. What is clear is the new ‘NSW Department of Primary Industries and RegionalDevelopment’ will be coordinated from Sydney by the city-centric Premier, which ishard to believe given during the election campaign he said “I don’t pretend to have anyexpertise about regional New South Wales”. We need to see some clarity around how these changes are going to help our farmers,fishers or foresters do what they do, each and every day. Instead of providing any funding for

The Dubbo electorate Woman of the Year 2024 has been awarded to Mudgee local, MyffClarke, in recognition of her significant work to actively support the community. Member for the Dubbo electorate, Dugald Saunders, commended Myff on the honour,recognising her passion and the positive impact she has made in the Mudgee area. “This is a well-deserved honour for Myff. Her commitment and ongoing contribution tocommunity groups and the Children’s Medical Research Institute through the Mudgeecommittee is significant and I am pleased to be able to recognise her with this award.” “Myff is an inspiration and highlights that the Dubbo electorate is