The second meeting for 2026 of the Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA) took place earlier this month at Parliament House in Sydney with more than 130 mayors and general managers from 89 member rural, remote and regional councils represented. Temora Shire were represented by mayor Rick Firman and general manager Melissa Boxall, who are also the chairman and secretary of CMA, respectively. Skills shortages/labour solutions were the theme of the meetings, but a big topic of discussion was the federal government’s cancellation of the Inland Rail project with CMA members appalled at the decision to abandon a crucial nation building project. The immediacy of this issue and the impact it has on local councils prompted an urgent motion stating that the board of the CMA would make urgent representation to the federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King. In the motion the CMA expressed disappointment at the cessation of the Inland Rail project and was seeking urgent clarification on the next steps in the scaling back of the project, to seek compensation and support measures for contractors, businesses and councils that have incurred significant sunk costs and investment in preparation for the project. The motion was carried unanimously, and the CMA is now seeking an urgent meeting between those councils affected and the minister to discuss the impacts of the project’s cessation on regional communities, councils and the local economies. Guest speakers for the sessions were: • NSW Minster for Skills, TAFE & Tertiary Education – The Hon. Steve Whan MP • NSW Shadow Minister for Skills, TAFE, Tertiary Education and Medical Research – Mr Justin Clancy MP • Executive Director of Economic Delivery – Mr Craig Jenkins • Royal Flying Doctors Service (RFDS) Chief Executive – South Eastern Section – Mr Greg Sam • CSU President – Professor Renee Leon • Deputy Secretary of NSW Office of Local Government – Mr Brett Whitworth • Special guest speaker was NSW Premier, The Hon Chris Minns MP. During his address the Premier, Chris Minns, spoke to a raft of issues but thanked the CMA for the continuing support and advocacy in lobbying the federal government to increase the GST allocated to state government and the their ‘Invest in Us’ campaign, to restore the Financial Assistance Grants (FAGs) back to one percent of total Commonwealth Taxation Revenue. Chairman of CMA mayor Rick Firman said that the Premier and the State Government are supportive of this campaign and we will continue to work together to ensure local government and NSW receive our rightful share of funding. “Financial sustainability is the number one issue for our members, and the CMA Board and Staff continue to do all we can to ensure this is addressed,” Cr Firman said. “The CMA Board are pleased we have a solid, open and genuine relationship with both our NSW government and opposition and we will work hard to ensure this continues.” At a reception hosted by NSW Legislative Council President, Ben Franklin, in the Jubilee Room of NSW Parliament House CMA members were inspired by the former Govenor-General, Sir Peter Cosgrove as he reflected on his tenure as Governor-General and his time in the Australian Defence Forces. “All of those in attendance appreciated that Sir Peter recognised the important work of rural, remote and regional Mayors and their Councils, particularly in disaster recovery efforts – something he dealt with for decades in his various disaster response leadership roles,” Cr Firmqan said. Sir Peter said that local government in the bush is an extraordinarily important part of our democratic fabric, during his address. “Communication is the conduit of leadership from the Prime Minister down to the leading hand of a small group of council workers fixing the roads. Leadership uncommunicated is leadership unrequited,” he said.
