We had the good fortune of having several ministers make appearances in Dubbo last week, as they traversed the state on their way to Community Cabinet in Lithgow. Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation Matt Kean took the opportunity to drop in and speak with business owners at The Exchange, and left in awe of what a fantastic business community we have in the Dubbo electorate.

Attorney general Mark Speakman came to town to announce $250,000 to upgrade the CCTV network across Dubbo and Wellington, and also some funds to promote a school program in Wellington that will engage the youth of the town and steer them down the right path Ray Williams, who is the Minister for multiculturalism and disability services, visited and handed out $1000 grants to a handful of terrific volunteer organisations that benefit the community, and Primary Industries, Regional Water and Trade/Industry Minister Niall Blair also headed our way to make some significant announcements. This is one of the benefits of having a seat at the table in a government that has balanced the books and has NSW in a position where money can be spent across a myriad of portfolios to better our communities. As much as the other political parties will deny it, there is plenty of money being spent in regional NSW and the Dubbo electorate has never seen such an investment as it has in the past eight years. We have spent that time rebuilding the state, and hopefully come March the Liberal/National government will be able to continue the work and reaffirm our position as the most prosperous state in Australia.

Western NSW Local Health District is partnering with the community to co-design the Dubbo Gundaymarra – Mental Health Inpatient Unit. Following the recent community consultations in Dubbo and Bourke, the LHD is offering a further opportunity for consumers and carers to provide input into the redesign of the unit.   Community members are invited on a tour of the Mental Health Inpatient Unit on December 5.  This will be a further opportunity for the community to comment or provide suggestions for inpatient service provision. Please note times and tours are limited and people will need to book by contacting 02 6881 4000.

The NSW Liberals and Nationals Government has completed one of the largest overhauls of child sexual abuse legislation, with a range of tough new laws coming into force to increase child protection, bring offenders to justice and deliver better outcomes for survivors.

These reforms include a new grooming offence and laws to make it easier to prosecute persistent child sexual abuse. As a result, it is now an offence to groom a parent or a carer to access a child for sexual purposes. The changes recognise sexual predators sometimes provide adults with gifts, money and other benefits as a way of cultivating their trust and gaining access to their children.

Those found guilty of this new offence will face a maximum penalty of six years imprisonment. An existing offence of grooming children has also been broadened to cover situations where a victim is provided with money or other material benefits.