They say a week is a long time in politics, just ask Peter Dutton.For Kevin Hogan, the Federal member for Page, the last ten days have been more positive than it has been negative despite the thumping loss to Labor on May 3 for the coalition.Mr Hogan was re-elected for a fifth term for Page with a virtually unchanged vote. His primary vote is at 45%, down only 0.4%, while his two-party preferred vote is at 59.5%, down from 60.5%.At a party vote today, Mr Hogan was elected Deputy Leader of the National Federal Parliamentary team.He was promoted to the front bench in June 2022 as Shadow Minister for Trade and Tourism and now adds the second top job in the Nats to his resume."I am incredibly honoured to have been elected Deputy Leader of The Nationals Federal Parliamentary team, alongside our Leader David Littleproud and Senate Leader Bridget McKenzie."As someone who grew up in regional Australia, and has proudly represented regional communities for over a decade, I consider it a great privilege to take on this role."The Nationals main focus is our regions, and I am committed to ensuring sure the voices of the nine million people who live outside our capital cities continue to be heard loud and clear in Canberra."The Nationals have not lost a lower house seat since 2007. At this election, we also achieved a major swing toward us in Bendigo. This is a credit to our entire team, our candidates, and local campaigns that work tirelessly across the country."I want to acknowledge Senator Perin Davey for her service as Deputy Leader, a Shadow Minister and a strong advocate for regional NSW. She will be deeply missed in the Parliament."Thank you to my colleagues in the Party Room for the trust they have placed in me. "I stand proudly with my colleagues and our Leader, David Littleproud to move forward united, with a clear goal — to deliver a fairer, stronger future for regional Australia."

This International Nurses Day, the vital contributions of nurses across NSW are being recognised as they continue to be at the heart of healthcare in every community.Minister for Health Ryan Park thanked nurses for the important role they play in providing compassionate care and clinical expertise in a range of clinical, outpatient, and community settings.International Nurses Day is an opportunity to shine a light on the incredible dedication NSW nurses show every day in delivering high-quality, patient-centred care to thousands of people across the state. If you know a nurse or midwife going above and beyond, International Nurses Day is the perfect time to nominate them for the Healing Heart Award, as part of the 2025 Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awards. The Healing Heart Award recognises a nurse or midwife whose compassion, kindness, professionalism, or other attributes stood out.Nominations for the Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awards are open until 12 June. People can nominate at: www.health.nsw.gov.au/einmaThe Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awards consist of nine awards, including seven local health district and specialty network-nominated awards, one consumer-nominated Healing Heart award and one colleague-nominated Healing Heart award.Minister for Health Ryan Park said, “Nurses are the backbone of our healthcare system, and I want to thank each and every one of them for the vital role they play in our health system.“Their contributions are critical to ensuring safe, effective, and compassionate healthcare, and their commitment is essential to the resilience of the entire health system.“The care and expertise provided by nurses supports thousands of people across our state every single day, and International Nurses Day is a chance to shine a light on the incredible work they do.”NSW Health’s Chief Nursing & Midwifery Officer Jacqui Cross said, “Nurses are everywhere all the time, contributing to health outcomes for the people and communities of NSW. They are in community settings and in acute and complex care environments, and everywhere in between.“I am incredibly proud of my nursing colleagues and would like to thank them for their compassion, professionalism, and round-the-clock commitment to caring for patients in the public health system.“As the single largest workforce group in NSW Health, nurses are there at every turn, making a real difference to the care and experience of patients and their families and carers.”

The NSW Police Force is celebrating 100 years of commitment to road safety initiatives, honouring the dedication of its traffic officers and exploring new technologies to further reduce road trauma.This year marks 100 years of Road Safety in the NSW Police Force and 50 years since the establishment of what is now known as the Traffic & Highway Patrol Command.To commemorate the milestone, more than 50 NSW Police vehicles, including 24 motorcycles and 11 privately-owned historic police cars, will drive in convoy from Sydney Motorsport Park at Eastern Creek to the Sydney Opera House today (Monday, 12 May 2025).The anniversary coincides with national and international road safety week.There have been major advances in technology and vehicles in the past 100 years, with the introduction of seatbelts and random breath tests recognised as key developments that played a significant role in reducing road trauma.(Random Breath Testing machine 1983. Photo: supplied)In 1975, there were 1288 recorded fatal crashes, which reduced to 620 in 1995 and 326 in 2015.There have been 131 deaths so far in 2025, which Assistant Commissioner David Driver, Commander of the Traffic & Highway Patrol Command, said was “still 131 too many”.Today, highway patrol officers, crash investigators, and other specialist staff use state-of-the-art equipment in their work, and the Command continues to pursue further technology to improve road safety.Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said she looked forward to seeing how this technology advanced in the coming years as she reflected on the NSW Police Force’s significant milestone.“For a century, what is now the NSW Police Force Traffic & Highway Patrol has stood as a constant presence on our roads saving lives and keeping communities safe with a dedication that often goes unseen but never unappreciated,” Minister Catley said.(An AJS police motorcycle in 1926. Photo: supplied)“Marking 100 years of road safety in the NSW Police Force is not just about looking back - it’s about recognising the thousands of officers whose grit, discipline, and quiet courage have protected countless lives from tragedy on our roads, with some themselves making the ultimate sacrifice.“This centenary is a chance to honour a special legacy - 100 years of service, from back streets to highways, with every kilometre patrolled helping to save lives.”Commissioner Karen Webb said NSW Police had seen great advancements in technology over the years to keep the community safe."For a century, the NSW Police Force has been a pillar of safety and security on our roads,” Commissioner Webb said.“The dedicated men and women of what is now Traffic & Highway Patrol Command have for the past 100 years been committed to road safety. Their efforts have helped save countless lives, and they continue to protect our communities.“At one stage during my career, I held the role of Commander of Traffic & Highway Patrol Command, and I am extraordinarily proud to be here today to celebrate this significant milestone.”(Amy Milgate and Gladys Johnson, the first uniformed female police officers in 1948. Photo: supplied)Minister for Roads and Regional Transport Jenny Aitchison said keeping the people of NSW safe on our roads was one of our highest priorities.“I want to thank the NSW Police for the critical role in road safety that they have played for 100 years,” Minister Aitchison said.“As first responders at crash scenes, in traffic management and in enforcement, the Traffic & Highway Patrol Command is there for the NSW community on the frontline saving lives every day.”Today’s convoy will see vehicles travel via the M7/M2 Motorway, Bradfield Highway and Cahill Expressway, before arriving at the Sydney Opera House forecourt. Police will then recreate photos of Traffic & Highway Patrol cars and officers that were taken at the same location.The first photo dates back to the years between 1938 - 1940, and the second was taken in 1996.National Road Safety Week is an annual initiative from the Safer Australian Roads and Highways (SARAH) Group, partnering with road safety organisations and government.The week, which runs from Sunday, 11 May to 18 May 2025, highlights the impact of road trauma and ways to reduce it.Significant milestones in road safety:1925 - NSW Police created the Public Safety Bureau.1937 - Speed limits were legislated.1954 - Speed detection radars were first used.1968 - A blood alcohol concentration limit of 0.08 was implemented.1969 - Demerit points were introduced.1971 - Introduction of compulsory wearing of seatbelts. In 1970, there were 1309 recorded fatal crashes. This fell to 1092 in 1972, with the decreases likely attributed to the introduction of seatbelts.1975 – The Highway Patrol Command was established, with more emphasis placed on deterring traffic offences, including distinctly marked, highly visible vehicles were introduced with light bars and sirens fitted to the roof.1980 - A blood alcohol concentration limit of 0.05 was implemented.1982 - Stationary random breath tests were introduced. There was a significant drop in fatal crashes recorded in 1982 from 1253 deaths to 966 in 1983.1987 - Mobile random breath testing was established. There was a decrease in fatal crashes recorded from 1029 in 1986 to 959 in 1987.1990 - Speed cameras were introduced. There was a decrease in fatal crashes from 960 in 1989 to 797 in 1990.1997 - Double demerits came into effect.2001 - 40km/h school zones were introduced.2005 - Automatic number plate recognition technology, which is now fitted to all marked Highway Patrol vehicles across the state, was introduced. The technology advanced to reading six number plates per second in 2009.2007 - Roadside Drug Testing was introduced.2024 - Random drug testing processes introduced where a driver who tests positive for an illicit substance during an initial swab test will be arrested and undergo an immediate roadside oral test. This replaced the former practice of transporting drivers to a police station - saving officers more than 55,000 policing hours in enforcement. In 2024, NSW Police conducted more than 3.4 million random tests for alcohol and drugs. When averaged out over the year, it represents more than 9,500 tests each day across NSW.

On Saturday, the Lismore App published a news story about the NSW Reconstruction Authority (NSWRA) involving Resilient Lismore in providing additional support for people who have registered for the Resilient Homes Program (RHP) and have been assessed for a house raising or retrofit.This has nothing to do with house buybacks, which has been the focus of the RHP since it was established. House raisings and retrofits have a similar Resilient Land Program (RLP) feel, and that is, moving at a glacial pace.As at 28 April 2025, 420 homeowners in the Northern Rivers have been prioritised for resilient measures (home retrofits and raisings), who are receiving tailored assessments to make their homes more resilient against flooding.Two hundred sixty-five (265) home assessments have been completed and are at various stages of works with the homeowner. Forty-nine (49) resilient measure (raise, retrofits, relocation, rebuild) offers have been approved, with 20 completed. The above statistics, were not split into LGA's. However, as of 28 March 2025, Clarence led the way in terms of numbers, followed by The Tweed, Lismore, Byron and Richmond Valley.Minister for Recovery and Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said, “I want to see as many homes as possible get raised and retrofitted and while we’ve got lots more to do, we are beginning to make some good progress here. “I’m glad that the Reconstruction Authority is helping people get their homes assessed, and that 265 homeowners in our community have a path to make their homes more resilient against flooding. “The most important thing about the Resilient Homes Expos is that our people who need clear information on making their homes more resilient, or on how to relocate a buyback home, are able to sit down with a real person and get the help they need.” A NSW Reconstruction Authority spokesperson said, "The NSW Reconstruction Authority will hold three Resilient Home Expos in May at Richmond Valley (Woodburn), Lismore (Goonellabah) and Clarence (Maclean), following one earlier this week at Murwillumbah. "These expos help Resilient Homes Program homeowners looking to make their homes more flood resilient, and community members seeking to relocate a buyback home to a new location. "The expos will provide information about the Resilient Homes Program grant process, development approval processes, and how successful resilient building and relocation projects can be delivered. "Homeowners and business representatives can visit information stands and speak with representatives from councils, Reconstruction Authority, SafeWork NSW, Building Commission NSW, and various industry associations and businesses interested in resilient building services. "Sessions on resilient measures, development approval processes, and relocation will also be on offer throughout the expo. There will be opportunities on the day to book 15-minute one-on-one appointments with a Council Officer or a RHP team member.   For more details on the expos or to register visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/nsw-reconstruction-authority/our-work/events.

The fences are up, the asbestos removal sign is on display, which means the demolition of the Goonellabah Fire Station on Taylor Avenue (corner Rous Road) is not far away.Residents in Goonellabah would have noticed the removal of the telecommunications tower approximately four weeks ago in preparation for the rest of the demolition.The tower removal has led to many residents complaining about reduced mobile phone signal strength, which has decreased the services delivered by their provider.The Lismore App contacted Optus, which was on the tower, and provides access to resellers, such as Vodafone, Amaysim, TPG, and Virgin Mobile. They acknowledged that the nearest tower is now quite far away, and there is a problem in the area.The good news is that Optus is working on a new tower; the bad news is that there is no restoration time period.Back to the demolition and rebuild of the Goonellabah Fire Station.The firefighters who have called Goonellabah home are in a temporary facility until the completion of the new $7 million Goonellabah Fire Station, which is expected to be in October 2026.Demolition will occur over the next three months, with construction starting in August.During that time, the new plans will be completed by June, and at the same time, the conceptual drawings will be finalised.The concept is to construct a modern, purpose-built building with facilities that are in line with today's standards and culture. This includes male and female privacy areas, which until now has been a shared space. Females now represent over 10% of the Fire and Rescue service personnel.Another important addition to the new building is the 'clean firefighter program'. This is a designated area for firies to bring back carcinogens and other harmful particulates from fire scenes.When complete, the new Goonellabah Fire Station will accommodate both the permanent (full-time) firefighters currently based at 141 Molesworth Street, Lismore, and the existing retained firefighters of the Goonellabah Fire Station. Their truck and associated resources will also be housed at the new facility.The purpose of this redevelopment is to relocate essential emergency services outside of the major flood zone, ensuring that the crew and equipment currently based in Lismore are not displaced during flood events.Currently, the Lismore station is staffed by both permanent and retained personnel. Once the redevelopment is complete, the permanent staff will relocate to the new Goonellabah Fire Station, and the Lismore station will operate as a retained-only station.

If you are travelling south on the Pacific Motorway this week, be prepared for some delays as Transport for NSW carries out bridge maintenance and asphalt patching work.The Harwood Bridge maintenance work begins at 6am tomorrow (Monday, May 12) until 12 midday Wednesday, May 14 with contraflow lane closure of the bridge and a 40km/h speed limit in place for the safety of motorists and workers. Intermittent stoppages might be required, and motorists can expect delays of up to five minutes.Then on Thursday, May 15 work will be carried out from 6.30am to 4pm at Farlows Overbridge, and on Friday, May 16, near Ferry Park.Traffic control will be in place at each location during work hours.Alternating traffic flow and a reduced speed limit will be in place Farlows Overbridge and a single lane closure on the southbound carriageway of the Pacific Motorway will be in place near Ferry Park.Intermittent stoppages might be required, and motorists can expect delays of up to five minutes.Motorists are advised to drive to the conditions, and follow the directions of signs and traffic control.For more information on this work, visit livetraffic.com/incident-details/233952, download the Live Traffic NSW app or call 132 701.

Primex 2025 swings open its gates at the Richmond Valley Events Centre, Casino, this Thursday (May 15) as Australia's sustainable farming and primary industries expo gets underway.As usual, there are plenty of items to see and do from agriculture to lifestyle, such as extensive livestock displays, the Nourish Food & Drink Fest, the Health & Wellbeing Hub, Agtech Alley, Affordable Housing, the Regenerative Agricultural Hub and the NextGen schools and farming programs, to name a few.These 41st Primex field days at Casino look to the future of agriculture across the region _ from the latest in ag technology to 21st century farming techniques _ while recognising the long-term commitments to the Northern Rivers from the likes of machinery dealers through to the Country Women’s Association. Primex director Bruce Wright says the 2025 theme _ Our Future in Farming _ underpins this year’s expo.“Our theme sounds simple but covers a host of topics and exhibits from the latest in agricultural technology through to future planning in the Northern Rivers area,” he said.Mr Wright _ long an advocate for the region _ adds that this is a critical time for the food and fibre producers of this diverse agricultural area, often undervalued by governments, to develop a cohesive voice.Along with a number of the Northern Rivers stakeholders, he has facilitated innovations such as the Young Aggies program to grow a network for the region’s next generation of farmers.Since 1985, the family-owned Primex field days have evolved to cater for one of Australia’s most diverse primary production regions, with a farm gate valued in excess of $1 billion per annum according to the DPI. Today, Primex hosts more than 430 exhibitors, 1200 suppliers and some 30,000 visitors while engaging with 30 grower organisations and groups throughout northern NSW. Over three days, Primex showcases leading brands and suppliers to the area’s agricultural and rural sectors, generating between $45-70 million in sales per annum and injecting an estimated $2.5-3.5 million into the region.For today’s farmers and rural communities, the 2025 Norco Primex offers a wide range of exhibits and exhibitors, alongside agricultural innovations and personal health advice. Days Machinery returns with the latest in Case, New Holland and Stihl products, RDO will have a paddock of John Deere machinery on show, while Local Land Services are back with advice for rural landholders, and the CWA and Baptistcare are among local service organisations.There is also a host of workwear suppliers, from AAA Socks to Ringers Western, alongside farm gear from gates to sheds. Recreational and work vehicles on show include the hybrid BYD Shark utility, the latest in GWM products, and Chev Silverados.The Norco Primex is a one-stop shop for farmers and rural people for machinery, agricultural solutions and services from the likes of Norco Agrisolutions, the NSW DPI and rural health practitioners. All these exhibits are complemented by a number of seminars and panel discussions from a Local Government Networking Event to a Forestry and Timber dinner, a Business Leaders luncheon and a ‘Future in Livestock’ discussion panel with red meat industry experts.The Primex ‘Nourish Food & Drink’ offers a complete supply chain experience where farmers and foodies meet to share food experiences, and destinations, with the program showcasing the region’s locally produced foods and products to create a connection between farmers and foodies.This program is set to profile food, brewery and distillery products with leading chef demonstrations and Paddock to Plate events offering fresh culinary experiences.All this is further complemented by activities from working dog trials and drone demonstrations to an interactive truck exhibition, Steering the Future, plus a range of entertainment, along with food and drink outlets.  A Dinky Di train will help visitors move around this year’s Norco Primex site. The 2025 Norco Primex opens 9am to 4pm on Thursday, May 15, Friday, May 16 and Saturday, May 17. Tickets can be bought online _ for a 30 per cent discount _ or at the gates. One-day pass $20; three-day pass $45. Children under 12 free; 12-17 day pass $10 + three-day pass $20. Student/pensioner one-day pass $10; three-day pass $20. For more information, check www.primex.net.au.

Healthy North Coast has released its health needs assessment for 2025-2028, offering a comprehensive overview of the region's health priorities and challenges. This assessment, developed through extensive community engagement and data analysis, will guide future health service planning and commissioning across the North Coast.The key findings included:The most common chronic conditions in general practice were anxiety, osteoarthritis, asthma, depression and osteoporosisThe North Coast has the highest incidence of melanoma in NSWFewer children on the North Coast aged 1, 2 and 5 years were fully immunised than in either NSW or AustraliaThere are disparities in accessing primary care and hospital services on the North Coast across geographical areas and communities, with limited access to after-hours services.Healthy North Coast has developed 12 detailed Local Government Area (LGA) fact sheets, from Port Macquarie Hastings LGA to Tweed LGA. These fact sheets highlight unique health attributes and challenges within each community.For example, the table below outlines the Lismore LGA risks from lifestyle habits, and compares them to the rest of NSW.There are also fact sheets for specific health priority areas, like Aboriginal health and wellbeing, mental health, and older persons' health.When asked, "Which do you see as the most serious health concerns in your community? The Lismore responses were:Mental health issuesLack of access to health careAgeing populationDrug and alcohol useLack of dental careIn Lismore, more than 1 in 5 people have two or more chronic conditions. The most common chronic conditions are anxiety and osteoarthritis.“As a result of this process, there is a wealth of great information available that we hope will be useful for the whole community. Those employed in health, local government, education, employment and social and community services may find the resources useful for their work. I’d encourage you to jump on our website and take a look,” said Healthy North Coast CEO, Monika Wheeler.The assessment draws on insights from over 3,200 responses from the North Coast community to Healthy North Coast’s Better Health Community Survey in 2024, plus community workshops held in Kyogle, Grafton, Macksville, and online. These contributions have been instrumental in identifying key health needs and gaps in the health system.“We thank the community members, health professionals and service providers who generously shared their time, experiences, and knowledge in the health needs assessment process.“Your input has been vital in shaping a local health needs assessment that reflects the diverse communities of the North Coast. It gives us a clear path forward to make sure the right services are available in the right areas, to improve health in ourregion,” added Ms Wheeler.Healthy North Coast’s health needs assessment is undertaken every three years. Findings from previous health needs assessments have helped to shape the delivery of mental health services available via the Medicare Mental Health Phone Service, GP outreach clinics in homelessness services, the Primary Care Access initiative which offers free same-day GP appointments across the region through telehealth triage, education programs supporting immunisation skills enhancement amongst health professionals, and many more.The full health needs assessment, along with the LGA and priority area fact sheets, are available on Healthy North Coast’s website at hnc.org.au/health-needs-assessment-25-28.

A new study challenges a common assumption that Australian women who divorce or separate in midlife are destined for a bleak future.While finances can be a struggle and personal happiness declines in the short term, it gradually increases within a few years, often exceeding pre-divorce levels. That’s one finding from a South Australian study that tracked over 1400 women who had divorced or separated, comparing them with a control group of over 2500 women who remained in long-term relationships. Life satisfaction was tracked over multiple decades, using data from nine waves of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health. The findings have been published in the Journal of Happiness Studies. Researchers from the University of South Australia (UniSA) and the University of Adelaide said that social support, perceived control, and income satisfaction influenced how well women adjusted after their relationships dissolved. Lead author, UniSA clinical psychology master’s student Olivia Arcangeli, says that divorce and separation are among the most stressful experiences of adulthood, yet little is known about the impact of later-life relationship dissolution. “When long-term relationships end during midlife (age 45-50), people still have decades ahead of them, but also less time to re-establish themselves financially and in other ways,” Arcangeli says. “We found that within three to four years, divorced and separated women returned to their pre-dissolution levels of life satisfaction. This contrasts with a similar study in Germany, which showed that women still had not returned to pre-divorce levels of happiness five to six years after their relationship ended.” The difference between the two countries may be attributed to more lenient attitudes towards divorce in Australia, where there is far less stigma around divorce than in Germany. University of Adelaide psychology lecturer, Dr Anastasia Ejova, says the Australian study showed that life satisfaction levels for divorced and separated women matched those of married and partnered women approximately 13.5 years after their relationship ended, and continued growing somewhat faster, slightly exceeding the control group’s life satisfaction in the last few years of measurement. “This finding can be explained through the lens of post-traumatic growth, whereby individuals who experience major crises may develop increased insight and gratitude regarding their circumstances, which in turn increases their wellbeing,” Dr Ejova says. “We would ideally need to keep following the women for another few years to see whether the faster growth post-separation is sustained.” Women whose life satisfaction levels fell sharply in the years surrounding the relationship breakup experienced greater long-term happiness afterwards. The researchers say this could be linked to feelings of relief after dealing with high levels of stress and conflict during their relationship. Among the control group, happiness levels also rose later in the marriage, consistent with the view that many marital problems were able to be resolved over time. Women with strong support networks, a sense of control over their lives, and a greater ability to manage on their available income reported higher life satisfaction post-separation. The effects of re-partnering, having children, and education were either non-significant or unexpected. Unlike previous research on men and women, this study did not find re-partnering to improve life satisfaction levels post-divorce for Australian women. The researchers note it is possible that the benefits of re-partnering are more likely to be seen in men. In addition, despite an assumption that children present significant emotional and financial challenges for divorcees, the study showed minimal differences in happiness levels post-divorce between women with and without children. “The findings highlight the need for targeted support services for middle-aged women going through divorce and separation,” Arcangeli says. “Providing access to counselling, financial advice and social support networks could help women navigate the emotional and economic challenges of separation more effectively, making a big difference to their long-term wellbeing.”

Attorney General Michael Daley has appointed State Parole Authority Chair and former Supreme Court Justice, the Honourable Geoffrey Bellew SC, and former NSW Police Deputy Commissioner, Mr Jeffrey Loy, to review the operation of doli incapax in NSW. Doli incapax is a legal presumption that children between the ages of 10 and 14 do not sufficiently understand the difference between right and wrong to be held criminally responsible. Doli incapax operates as a common law presumption in NSW and can be rebutted if the prosecution proves beyond a reasonable doubt that a child understood that what they did was seriously wrong. The NSW Government has been considering the operation of doli incapax for some time and launched the review this month. It comes as the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) released a new report finding a significant decline in the number of young people aged 10 to 13 years found guilty of a criminal offence following a 2016 High Court decision.The 2016 decision in RP v The Queen clarified a number of matters in relation to doli incapax, including that the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the child understood their actions were ‘seriously wrong’. Convictions fell dramatically from 2016, coinciding with the High Court decision. The BOCSAR study found the proportion of 10–13-year-olds with a proven outcome in the NSW Children’s Court – either guilty or not guilty – fell dramatically from 76 per cent in 2015-16 to 16 per cent in 2022-23. The prosecution withdrew charges in more than half of all cases in 2022-23. Similar trends were observed in Victoria and South Australia following the High Court decision. Like NSW, these states rely on a common law understanding of doli incapax, instead of having it codified in legislation. States that have codified doli incapax in legislation, such as Queensland and Western Australia, did not show a similar decline. BOCSAR said the result raised questions about how best to support these young people to reduce future criminal involvement. Often, the young person is simply released from custody without support, back into the care of dysfunctional families, and, too often, they engage in behaviour that endangers themselves and members of the community. The review being undertaken by the Honourable Geoffrey Bellew SC and Mr Jeffrey Loy is considering how the presumption of doli incapax is applied in criminal proceedings, the impact of its operation on options for intervention, what improvements could be made and a framework for legislation. They will also consider how doli incapax interacts with the Young Offenders Act 1997 and the Mental Health and Cognitive Impairment Forensic Provisions Act 2020, and other relevant matters, including community safety and the interests of children. Stakeholders, including victims’ groups, local and regional communities, Aboriginal-led organisations and legal and government stakeholders, will be consulted as part of the review.They are due to report back to the Attorney General in the second half of 2025.The Honourable Geoffrey Bellew SC’s legal career spans more than 40 years, and he served as a Justice of the Supreme Court of NSW between 2012 and 2023. Mr Loy spent 40 years with the NSW Police Force, including as Deputy Commissioner from 2017 until 2021, receiving the Australian Police Medal (APM) and National Emergency Medal. He was appointed a member of the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority in 2022. Attorney General Michael Daley said, “The common law presumption of doli incapax dates back hundreds of years. It operates across all Australian jurisdictions, and its existence in the common law has been affirmed by the High Court. “Recently, concerns have been raised about the operation of doli incapax. I commissioned this review to ensure close consideration of any improvements that can be made and possible legislative reforms. “The Honourable Geoffrey Bellew SC and Mr Jeffrey Loy are highly respected experts in criminal law and law enforcement, particularly in the youth space. They are well-placed to examine how doli incapax is being applied in NSW, and I look forward to considering their recommendations.”

A woman’s chances of surviving ovarian cancer at least five years after diagnosis come down to the toss of a coin: just 49% will reach that milestone, making it one of the most lethal reproductive cancers worldwide.One of the reasons for the high mortality rate is late-stage diagnosis and delayed treatment due to nonspecific symptoms that are often missed by healthcare professionals and women themselves. University of South Australia postdoctoral researcher, Dr Amanda Lumsden, with a transdisciplinary team, is hoping to rectify this by co-designing a user-friendly symptom assessment tool for ovarian cancer, thanks to a $45,087 Catalyst grant from Health Translation SA (HTSA). Via an online ovarian cancer symptom scoping survey, researchers will gather feedback from people with lived experience of ovarian cancer (as well as clinicians) to help develop a prototype symptom assessment tool. The tool will detail potential symptoms and risk factors for ovarian cancer and will lay the groundwork for a larger study to test how well the prototype performs. Dr Lumsden, a Research Fellow based in UniSA’s Australian Centre for Precision Health, says that, unlike mammograms and cervical screening tests that help detect breast and cervical cancer at an early stage, there are no public screening programs for picking up ovarian cancer early. “Women with ovarian cancer may experience nonspecific symptoms for up to two or more years before the tumour becomes clinically apparent, and often do not connect these symptoms with cancer,” Dr Lumsden says. “By then, the tumour has usually progressed to an advanced stage.” “Abdominal issues, including bloating, pain and loss of appetite, are red flags. If there is a family history of ovarian cancer, this should also be considered. Some other factors are linked to lower risk, such as having children and having ever used oral contraceptives. “We are hoping to identify common symptoms, patterns and themes experienced by people who have experienced an ovarian cancer diagnosis and use these findings to inform the development of the tool.” “This is a very exciting avenue of research, and an important first step in a larger program of work,” says Professor Elina Hyppönen, who leads the group. If we can find a way to identify high-risk women at an earlier stage, this can increase the available treatment options, and hopefully help to ensure better treatment outcomes.” The online ovarian cancer symptom scoping survey is open until 20 June. Take the survey here.

Seven-year-old patient Willow May Roberts has been recognised for extraordinary bravery in her battle to overcome bone cancer.Willow was presented with the 2025 Suzie Levot Memorial Our Kids Bravery Award at the Our Kids Day Out festival in Ballina last Sunday, 4 May.The award is presented to a young patient each year in memory of former Lismore Base Hospital nurse Suzie Levot, who was instrumental in helping to create the Our Kids Day Out. Her family continues to be a cherished part of the annual event, which helps to raise funds for sick children.A proud young Widjabul Wia-bal girl from the Bundjalung nation, Willow was unanimously nominated by staff at Lismore Base Hospital for this year’s award.The young patient spent time in the Lismore Base Hospital Children's Ward as well as a significant amount of time at Queensland Children’s Hospital following the discovery of a 5.5cm tumour close to the growth plate on her left femur, later diagnosed as Osteosarcoma.Willow started her chemotherapy journey with strength and determination in May last year. On 1 August 2024, she became the 10th child in Queensland to undergo a rotationplasty amputation – a complex surgery she faced with incredible resilience.Willow’s mum, Martika Janson, said she was extremely proud of her daughter.“Willow has shown incredible strength and resilience when faced with the fight of her life,” Ms Janson said.“During her amputation operation, she never let anything get her down. The day after her amputation, Willow was on the edge of her bed, scared but brave, doing physiotherapy to get moving – she was unstoppable!(Willow May Roberts with her family. Photo: Our Kids)“Willow said: ‘I will do everything I did before, it will just take time’.”Our Kids Fundraising Coordinator, Rebekka Battista, said Willow was a deserving winner of the annual Suzie Levot Memorial Our Kids Bravery Award.“Willow truly deserves to be centre stage at the Our Kids Day Out celebration, she is extraordinary and has shown incredible bravery through her journey,” Ms Battista said.Lismore-based charity Our Kids raises funds to purchase paediatric equipment for children’s wards and special care nurseries in the region. This equipment helps children living in the Northern Rivers to receive the medical care they need close to home.To date, Our Kids has purchased more than $2.7 million in paediatric equipment for the Grafton, Lismore and Tweed hospitals. To find out more about Our Kids, or to become a financial or in-kind partner, contact the Our Kids team on 0438 417 085 or email info@ourkids.org.au.

Additional support is now available to Lismore and Northern Rivers homeowners identified by the NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA) as eligible for resilient measures as part of the Resilient Homes Program (RHP). The RA has engaged Resilient Lismore to provide additional support to homeowners impacted by the 2022 floods in the Lismore, Ballina, Byron, Clarence, Kyogle, Richmond Valley and Tweed Valley Local Government Areas (LGAs) through the Building Advisory Support Service (BASS).The BASS is designed to provide additional support to homeowners to navigate the RHP – Resilient Measures Stream, to complete a raise, retrofit, relocation or rebuild of their home.Homeowners will be supported as they move through the different stages of their resilient measures project, including engaging with qualified trades and industry professionals and understanding program requirements and processes.The RA will identify homeowners who have received their in-home assessment report and are eligible for resilient measures and refer them to Resilient Lismore.Homeowners will still be able to access assistance via the RA’s Resilient Homes Concierge by calling 1800 844 085 or by emailing resilienthomesprogram@reconstruction.nsw.gov.au.Northern Rivers homeowners eligible for the RHP who need additional help are encouraged to contact the RA to discuss if this service is right for them.The RA will also hold three Resilient Homes Expos in May at Woodburn, Goonellabah and Maclean, following one earlier this week at Murwillumbah, to help registered RHP homeowners looking to make their homes more flood resilient, and community members seeking to relocate a buyback home to a new location.The expos will provide information about the RHP grant process, development approval processes, and how successful resilient building and relocation projects can be delivered. Homeowners and business representatives can visit information stands and speak with representatives from councils, RA, SafeWork NSW, Building Commission NSW, and various industry associations and businesses interested in resilient building services.Sessions on resilient measures, development approval processes, and relocation will also be on offer throughout the expo. There will be opportunities on the day to book 15-minute one-on-one appointments with a Council Officer or a RHP team member. For more details on the expos or to register, visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/nsw-reconstruction-authority/our-work/events.For more information on the RHP in the Northern Rivers, visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/resilient-homes-program. The RHP is jointly funded by the Commonwealth and State governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.NSW Reconstruction Authority CEO Mal Lanyon said, “We want to make sure that homeowners across the Northern Rivers who face the greatest flood risk have access to additional support, so they can navigate the process and their options when it comes to resilient measures and connect with tradespeople and industry professionals.” “I would encourage homeowners eligible for the RHP who need additional help to contact the RA to discuss if this service is right for them by calling 1800 844 085 or emailing resilienthomesprogram@reconstruction.nsw.gov.au.”Resilient Lismore Executive Director Elly Bird said, “We’re very pleased to be working with the RA to provide additional support to homeowners across the region to help them navigate their recovery journey and to improve the resilience of their homes.“We have learnt a lot about people’s needs and challenges over the past three years through the delivery of our Repair to Return Project, and we are looking forward to bringing that understanding to this program. “This will enable us to provide more hands-on support to the people who need it, who are eligible for grants under the RHP, and we will do everything we can to help them achieve outcomes that will increase their resilience to future flooding events”.

The Friends of St Vincent's Hospital volunteer group deserves recognition after raising and funding $280,000 worth of defibrillators to save lives inside and outside the hospital in East Lismore."What gives us satisfaction is that these defibrillators will not only benefit those within the hospital walls, but also the people surrounding it. We can’t afford to lose anyone, and our job is to provide the best care possible,” said Ann Spillane, President of The Friends of St Vincent’s Hospital. St Vincent's Hospital released a statement thanking the Friends volunteer group, "It’s great to see the monies raised by the Friends going towards the purchase of clinical equipment that will benefit the hospital and the entire community for years to come.""This generous donation goes hand in hand with our goal to constantly improve staff competency levels in the area of Advanced Life Support."St Vincent's board Chairman, Damian Chapelle, accepted the donations of the top-of-the-line devices on behalf of the hospital. The new defibrillators now means St Vincent's has 10 'Lifepack35' clinical use defibrillators with Advanced Life Support (ALS) capability, as well as several smaller 'LifepackCR2' portable AED devices for placement around the campus.To date, the Friend’s of St Vincent’s Hospital volunteer group has raised over $2.5 million in donations that has provided needed infrastructure. This is off the back of the businesses run by the Friends, namely the Friends Coffee Lounge, Tea Rooms, and Child Day Care Centre.The volunteer group numbers are around 10-15 regulars. This has been slowly declining over the years, and they are in need of some new members. I you have time and are interested to find out more information, click St Vincent's Lismore | volunteer.

After two glorious days of sunshine and drying winds, it is back to more rain for the weekend. Unfortunately, it is frustratingly becoming the new normal for Lismore and the Northern Rivers.A high-pressure system over Victoria is causing strong southeasterly winds along the NSW coast, which is bringing showers for the next six days.The rainfall is not a worrying amount, but it is annoying as sporting fields and golf courses cannot dry out to get participants playing their beloved sport. Check your local clubs for conditions.The Bureau is forecasting 1 to 10mm on Saturday and 1 to 9mm on Sunday with an 80% to 90% chance of rain, although we will also see some sunshine.This weekend is the calm before the storm, with a host of events coming up in the next few weeks:Gemfest - next weekend, 17 and 18 May (Gemfest 2025)Primex - starts next Thursday, 15, 16 and 17 May (Primex Field Days)Beef Week - 24 May to 1 JuneLismore Lantern Parade - 21 JuneNow, all we need is some fine weather to give these events the best chance to be well attended.This weekend, there was a cancellation due to the rain. The Lismore Turf Club's Ladies Race Day was to run tomorrow (Saturday); however, consistent rain has killed the grass on parts of the track.Of course, this Sunday is Mother's Day, so there will be plenty of lunches and barbecues happening around Lismore and the Northern Rivers.If you are looking for gift ideas, check out the Lismore Farmers Markets at the Lismore Showground tomorrow morning from 7:30am.John Trapp will entertain you as you enjoy a coffee, tea or breakfast and shop for mum or your fresh, homegrown fresh fruit and vegetables.Up in the hills, the Channon Markets are still on at Coronation Park between 9am and 3pm on Sunday. THE CHANNON MARKETS HAVE NOW BEEN CANCELLED.As they say on their Facebook page, "Wander through stalls filled with handmade gifts, delicious treats, live music, and the warm community spirit we’re known for. Whether she’s into art, plants, pampering or pastries—there’s something here to make every mum smile."There are two gigs on at the Northern Rivers Hotel this weekend, including Katie Brooke on Saturday evening between 5 and 8pm, and soloist Karnage for the Mother's Day Sunday Session between 1 and 4pm.The Northern Rivers Hotel is having a Mother's Day Lunch (11:30am to 2:30pm) and Dinner (5pm to 8:30pm), call 02 6627 6119 to make a booking.The Lismore Workers Club has a number of acts to see in May and June; they include:Tommy Memphis with a FREE gig playing iconic '80s songs next Saturday, May 17.Who's Bad - the ultimate Michael Jackson tribute on Friday, May 30Kevin Bloody Wilson on Wednesday, June 25.You can book and check out the rest of the year's lineup, including Dorothy the Dinosaur, Herman's Hermits and Fleetwood Max, by clicking here.Fuel prices have remained steady over the last three weeks. Here is the list of service stations saving you the most money in each town:E10 is 175.9 across Lismore, 172.5 at The United on Johnston Street in Casino, and 162.5 at the Mobil on River Street, Ballina.Unleaded 91 is 175.9 at the Astron on Ballina Road near the Workers Club in Lismore, 174.5 at The United on Johnston Street in Casino, and 165.5 at the Mobil on River Street, Ballina.U95 is 185.9 at the Liberty on Ballina Road and the Independent on Wyrallah Road, East Lismore, 193.9 at the EG Ampol on Canterbury Street, and 175.9 at The Shell at 273 River Street, Ballina.U98 is 193.9 at the Astron and the Liberty on Ballina Road in Lismore and the Liberty on Union Street, South Lismore, 194.9 at Liberty's on Hare Street and Centre Street in Casino, and 185.9 at The Shell on River Street in Ballina.Diesel is 181.9 at the Astron on Ballina Road and the Caltex on Leycester Street in Lismore, 184.5 at The United in Casino, and 182.5 at The Mobil and The Metro on River Street in Ballina.Have a great weekend and Happy Mother's Day!Now, have a laugh with the Friday Funnies.....

Fifteen small to medium businesses and three local councils in flood-impacted towns and villages across the Northern Rivers are set to share in more than $9.2 million worth of grants thanks to the NSW Government’s Towns and Villages Resilient Business Activation Program.In Lismore, the businesses included NORPA, REDinc, Lismore Unlimited, the Lismore Rugby Club, Ecoteam and Lismore Gateway.Announced in September last year, the funding for businesses and local CBD's will be delivered through the Government’s Community Restoration Flood Fund to help support the economic recovery of villages and town centres in the Northern Rivers with direct activation and revitalisation projects.The Program is being delivered across the seven most flood-impacted Local Government Areas in the Northern Rivers, including Lismore, Tweed, Byron, Ballina, Richmond Valley, Kyogle, and Clarence Valley, with each reporting the highest average damage and other costs for businesses.Applicants were required to show how the project would benefit the local community and align with one or more of the Program’s objectives – for example, repair or replace damaged fixed equipment, machinery, or infrastructure needed to keep the business operating or the implementation of flood barriers, elevated foundations, waterproofing, flood resilient doors or windows and drainage systems.The funding was available through two targeted streams:Stream 1 – Infrastructure support for small and medium-sized businesses with grant amounts from $250,000 to $2 million.Stream 2 – CBD activation and revitalisation projects delivered by Councils with grant amounts from $50,000 to $500,000.This was a competitive program, which received more applications than available funding. The NSW Reconstruction Authority engaged the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development to govern the delivery and management of the Program.NSW Reconstruction Authority CEO Mal Lanyon said, “We know that many small and medium businesses are still recovering from the 2022 floods, so this funding is welcome news for those business owners.“The grants provide practical assistance to undertake repairs or replace key machinery or infrastructure and measure to prevent flood impacts, which is essential to the daily operations and livelihoods of the communities in the Northern Rivers.“Three councils will be able to revitalise their CBD’s and ensure there are once again great spaces for community to gather through improvements to the visual appeal, usability and safety of public areas.”

Business NSW is calling for urgent reform to the state’s workers’ compensation scheme, warning that inaction will crush businesses and leave workers without the support they need. “We fully support the rights of injured workers to receive care, rehabilitation and fair compensation – that’s why Business NSW helped establish the workers’ compensation scheme more than a century ago,” Business NSW Regional Director Jane Laverty said. “But today the system is being misused – and it’s hurting both workers and businesses. “Time away from work is a bad outcome for everyone – it is costly and leaves a business under-resourced. The evidence shows, however, that it can be very bad for a worker and their mental health to be disconnected from their workplace.” Last year, the scheme ran a $1.8 billion deficit – about $5 million every day.  Psychological injury claims have risen by 65% since 2021-22 and now exceed 11,000 claims a year, according to the State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA). “Many of our members report the scheme being used to escalate workplace grievances and performance issues,” Mrs Laverty said.  “One business had an employee lodge a psychological claim after a routine performance meeting. That claim was eventually upheld on appeal based solely on the worker’s ‘perception of being overworked’ – despite doing half the workload of colleagues.”  Three years later, that worker is still not fit to work more than 16 hours a week. The business is paying higher premiums, can’t replace the role, and has lost hundreds of hours in productivity and admin. “These stories are becoming all too common. The rules changed to allow provisional payments even when the injury stems from performance management. That’s tipped the balance too far,” Mrs Laverty said. Business NSW backs the NSW Government’s push for reform and will keep advocating for a system that distinguishes genuine injuries from workplace disputes. “We must restore integrity and fairness to the system before it collapses under its own weight. This isn’t about taking rights away – it’s about making sure the system works for the people it was designed to protect,” Mrs Laverty said. 

Safety in the CBD has been a concern for business owners and shoppers for quite some time. The matter was brought to the March council meeting through an urgency motion by Councillor Gianpiero Battista because crime and antisocial behaviour were causing safety issues and disrupting business, as well as keeping shoppers away from the CBD block.The motion, which was passed unanimously, asked council to:Write to the NSW Police Commissioner and Richmond Police District, highlighting safety concerns from CBD businesses and requesting a blitzSend a copy of the correspondence to Member for Lismore, Janelle Saffin, and Federal Member for Page, Kevin HoganInclude in the next budget an agreed amount of funding exclusively designed to increase safety in the CBD.Since then, Business Lismore has had a formal meeting with the acting Superintendent of the Richmond Police District and a Detective Senior Constable to discuss the issue.Business Lismore President Michael Ackrell told the Lismore App that the meeting was scheduled for 30 minutes and ran 90 minutes.In the meeting, it was reported that the CBD (from City Hall to the police station on Zadoc Street) reports an average of 100 incidents a month. In February 2025, this number increased to 180.The majority of phone calls received were centred around tobacconists and the Transit Centre, with mental health an added area of concern for police on top of crime, such as stealing and break and enters.The Richmond Police District used to have a mental health worker based at the police station, funded by NSW Health as part of a program called PACER. If necessary, the clinician would attend with police to assess the person’s mental health needs and organise appropriate care. This could lead to better outcomes and fewer people ending up in already crowded emergency departments.The PACER program is no longer available at the Lismore Police Station. For business owners in the CBD or community members shopping in the CBD, the key message was to report every incident. There was a belief that police would not do anything anyway, so why report an incident? However, if they are not reported, police do not have a true indication of the situation, which could lead to an increase in staffing to help find better solutions and a reduction in incidents.New Superintendent (Supt), Dave Roptell, said police have met with Council and Council representatives."We're in the process of putting together a joint operation which will go over a couple of days, focusing on safety, focusing on offences committed, like shoplifting and antisocial behaviour. Council will also focus on compliance."I will say this categorically, I commenced five weeks ago, but our crime categories are under control. So, there's some good things that are happening within the community as a whole, not just Lismore, but the whole Richmond Police District, which spans Ballina to Lismore and west to Casino and so forth."However, what we are doing to keep a lid on that, and to ensure community confidence and also perceptions of fear of crime, we are still going to run this operation and put a number of resources into it to ensure that the community see us and they feel safe." Supt Roptell said the operational results will determine any future actions."Whatever information we get will then determine how often it is required that we do full patrols or we address certain issues, but let me say this, they will happen regularly." A spokesperson from Lismore City Council said, "Council is continuing to work with Police to ensure everyone in our community feels safe in the CBD and, in particular, around the Transit CentreWhile the joint operation is being planned, you are encouraged to report any criminal or safety issues to police by calling (02) 6626 0599.

Better public transport infrastructure is coming to bus stops in the Lismore electorate with the NSW Government announcing over $1.6 million in funding to improve accessibility and safety across regional NSW.  The latest round of the Country Passenger Transport Infrastructure Grants Scheme (CPTIGS) will fund the construction of new bus stops and upgrades to existing ones, improving facilities for the entire community. In Lismore, funding will be allocated to the following projects:Perradenya Way, CaniabaThe James Road and Ballina Road intersection.The Lismore Railway Station, Union Street, South Lismore Allsop Park, Nimbin Statewide, the 2024-25 round will see 153 projects funded, including the installation of seating, shelters, improved signage and timetable boards, security lighting and enhanced accessibility. The scheme provides funding to councils, which own and manage bus stops. The Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, Jenny Aitchison, said, "The NSW Government is enhancing regional bus stops and shelters to improve accessibility, safety, and comfort for all passengers.  “This investment will make it easier for people with disabilities, parents with prams, and older residents to access work, school, healthcare, and social opportunities.  Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said, "By upgrading bus stop infrastructure in Lismore, Goonellabah, Caniaba and Nimbin, we are encouraging greater use of public transport, strengthening regional connectivity and making services more inclusive and accessible. “These improvements will make a real difference for those who rely on buses, ensuring they can have safer and more comfortable journeys.” For more information on the Country Passenger Transport Infrastructure Grants Scheme, visit https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/operations/community-transport-operators/country-passenger-transport-infrastructure-grants-scheme.