Premier Chris Minns and Minister for Regional New South Wales, Tara Moriarty will convene a
dedicated regional advisory group to work with the government to better understand and address
the unique challenges faced by people living and working in regional, rural and remote areas of New
South Wales.

Announced at the 2025 Bush Summit, the NSW Premier’s Rural Remote & Regional Advisory Council (PRRRAC) will meet twice annually with the Premier and Minister Moriarty.

The first council meeting is set to take place this year and will bring together representatives from
across the regions to provide direct advice and insights on issues impacting their communities, from
essential services and key infrastructure to biosecurity.

An invitation has been extended to Chair of the NSW Country Mayor’s Association, Rick Firman, the Chair of the NSW Regional Cities, and representatives from the Local Land Services, Country
Women’s Association, regional health and education sectors, Indigenous councils, and business
communities, to be part of this important forum.

The development of this advisory panel follows advocacy to the Premier from Chair of the Country
Mayor’s Association Rick Firman, who the Premier and Minister have invited to act as the groups
Secretariat.

Premier of New South Wales, Chris Minns said:
“We want to work with regional communities to find solutions that really meet their needs and will
make a difference.”

“We are committed to delivering regional communities their fair share and this group means we can
ensure our responses are targeted, effective and inline with the realities of regional life.”

“I have seen firsthand that when someone with a local knowledge of a community are willing to
share their experience and perspective with us, we deliver better policies, services and outcomes.
“I really want to congratulate Rick for being such an advocate for not just his community, but all
regional communities and bringing this idea to the table.”

Minister for Regional New South Wales, Tara Moriarty said:
“Our Government has taken a number of steps to better engage with regional communities such as
the roundtables last year, and the formation of the Regional Development Trust Advisory Council.
“This additional group ensures we can bring further input into government and continue our work in
ensuring solutions are meeting real local needs.”

“We have been building better essential services and attracting more essential workers to regional
NSW and I hope this group will assist me in our work of growing regional economies.”

Chair of the Country Mayors Association and Mayor of Tamora Rick Firman said:
“The CMA NSW Board, together with our 92 Members are tickled pink at the news our NSW Premier has signed off on his Rural, Remote & Regional Advisory Council.”

“Premier Minns was receptive of the proposal when we put this to him personally. Both our Premier
and his team have now come through in spades and now established this Advisory Council,
specifically for Rural, Remote & Regional issues.”

“We will share the challenges with suggested solutions, we will have Government policy proposals
bounced off us and give genuine feedback and we will also share the countless inspiring initiatives
that occur in our cherished rural, remote and regional communities which may be replicated across
our great State. Only positive things can come from this initiative.”

“Our CMA Board and Members warmly thank our Premier for further amplifying his commitment to
genuinely supporting us out here in the bush”,