Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro today announced the NSW Government will hold Community Cabinet in Bourke, in the NSW Far West, on the 25th November 2019.
Ms Berejiklian said the NSW Government was proud to accept an invitation from the Mayor of Bourke, Barry Hollman, to host Community Cabinet in the local area.
“These are incredibly trying times for people in Bourke and across regional NSW. The visit is an opportunity for Cabinet to listen and meet resilient locals who are experiencing the drought – farmers, small business owners and community organisations,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“The NSW Government has already committed $3 billion to drought affected communities but we know there is more to do.”
Mr Barilaro said Bourke is one of Australia’s most iconic outback towns and in the grips of crippling drought and water restrictions.
“Bourke is one of Australia’s most iconic and resilient towns, but even hardy communities like Bourke are battling under these severe drought conditions,” Mr Barilaro said.
“This will be a historic occasion with every minister from the NSW Government travelling to Bourke, making the city the epicentre of government for the day.
“The entire Cabinet will experience first-hand how tough conditions are in the Far West and witness the resilience and ingenuity of these communities.”
Clr Hollman said he was extremely pleased the Premier and Deputy Premier had accepted the invitation of Bourke Shire Council to host Community Cabinet in Bourke and was looking forward to welcoming them to the region.
“Bourke Shire Council has benefited considerably from the grant funding that had been made available to Bourke over the past few years and these funds had resulted in the ability of Council to embark on a number of projects which would have otherwise been impossible to achieve,” Clr Hollman said.
“The fact that the Premier and Deputy Premier have elected to come to Bourke is a clear demonstration of their support for rural and remote New South Wales and their willingness to travel out and see the problems that have being faced by the rural communities in the face of the extended drought.
“On a positive it is also a great opportunity for Bourke to be able to showcase what they have been able to achieve with the funding provided.”
NSW Cabinet will formally meet with local organisations, members of the community and visit farmers in the region.
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