Thursday, 12 September 2024
Subjects: Water Buybacks, Domestic Violence, Country Shows, R U O K Day, Local Government Elections, Grants
E&OE…
Dave Eisenhauer: A member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke, who's out on the road, always on the road going to something somewhere, very busy as a member for a huge district. The electorate of Cootamundra and Steph, a very good morning to you.
Steph Cooke: Oh, good morning, Dave, it's really good to be with you, and there are a few showers. I'm on my way down to Gundagai, but I've passed through a few showers this morning, so I'm not quite sure if it's made us way all the way down to your part of the world,
but certainly up in the north of the electorate we've had some rain overnight which is really good.
Dave Eisenhauer: yeah, we've had anywhere around that 5 or 6 mill mark around sort of Tumut, Gundagai but up in the mountains Cabramurra top the gauges everywhere they've had 24 mils and winds of it's about 60k winds up there too so fairly blustery conditions minus 7 .3 if you're standing outside this morning in Cabramurra Steph.
Steph Cooke: wow that's, that's very chilly, especially for September, but I expect up in that part of the world they're quite used to those sort of conditions. I think we're just grateful for any rain that we can get at the moment.
The crops are looking absolutely fantastic, but we know that good -timed spring rain is always like a good thing when they're trying to mature those crops.
Dave Eisenhauer: My word, look, the canola looks spectacular. We're going to talk about that, But, Steph, there's so much on. I mean, of course, have you got your shadow portfolios?
You've been very busy there with the Australia Water Association Conference, the Lachlan Valley Water AGM, and of course, we spoke to Wes last week, and Michael mentioned two, Budget estimates are underway with the state as well. It's a busy schedule you've got at the moment, Steph.
Steph Cooke: Oh, look, there's plenty going on at a state level, Dave, which is good. In terms of my work is Shadow Minister for water and Shadow Minister for Crownlands.
We are continuing to do our very best to keep the government, hold the government to account on the promises that they've made, on the decisions that they're making that impact our communities, and, of course, in the water space, particularly in the south of the state, all the talk is around the buybacks, the 70 gigalitres that the Federal government are chasing down at the moment.
But the New South Wales government, we believe, could be and should be doing far more in that space to push back on the feds in relation to those buybacks.
We know from previous rounds of buybacks that they do tremendous damage to our ability to produce the food and fibre that we do from what really is an amazing heartland in terms of agricultural production and it also does tremendous damage to communities right along those river systems, and what we found out through budget estimates this week is that Minister Jackson has passed along to Minister Moriarty the whole responsibility around structural adjustment packages and how they are implemented the decisions that are made in relation to that.
Now, what that really means, Dave, and I'll probably finish on this point in relation to water, but what that really means is that the Federal government has announced $300 million to help communities adjust to the withdrawal of 450 gigalitres of water from our communities across New South Wales.
It has been widely accepted that $300 million is not enough, even the New South Wales government acknowledges that $300 million is just not going to touch the sides when you think about the loss production, the loss of jobs, the loss of economic output that will occur as a result of 450 gigalitres being removed from the consumptive pool and returned to the environment.
Now, on that note, the New South Wales government has done nothing to argue for more money to help our communities adjust to the decisions that are being made, and further to that, the Minister for Water, despite it being a decision in the water space, is not taking up that challenge and that responsibility of seeing those communities transition to life beyond what will occur when these buybacks are implemented.
So that's really, really disappointing, and we'll continue to hold the government to account. And of course, at the same time, it's not lost on me that a big part of my responsibility is to put forward alternative proposals, alternative policies and I continue to work with stakeholders and communities and lead organisations right across New South Wales to pull together a suite of policies that we look to take to the 2027 state election.
Dave Eisenhauer: Such an important commodity isn't at water, we're spoilt in this part of the world Steph we've got the big dams Blowering and Talbingo, and you can burn all the dams and water storages for snowy and we sort of got the river systems and what have you, but you said further out into the western districts and it's worth more than gold Steph Cooke.
Steph Cooke: Oh look it absolutely is, without water we don't survive our communities don't survive our economy doesn't survive and I think one of the biggest challenges we really have west of the divide in general is making sure that the City has an appreciation of the fact that the food that they buy and that they consume every single day is grown and comes from our part of the world and we can't do that on thin air.
We need inputs to do that, and water is a critical input and so when they're paying higher prices in the City as we are doing out here in the bush as well, that's in part due to the decisions that are being made in the water space.
So, it's about pushing up and making sure that our voice is heard, and let's explore some alternatives rather than just buying back water all the time.
There are other things that we can be doing, and I'm really working hard to pull together what that might look like a couple of years down the path when, you know, if all goes well, I may very well find myself in the challenging portfolio of water, one which I would absolutely relish in, of course. But in the meantime, a lot of hard work that's ongoing in that space.
Dave Eisenhauer: Steph left to have a look at some more local issues that have been happening around the region that you are a part of with your, just a huge schedule across such a huge electorate.
And, Of course, one thing we talk about with law enforcement is domestic violence issues, family domestic violence and, of course, the reference group just recently with Alison, that would have been an interesting chat.
Steph Cooke: Yes, look, I continue to meet with groups right across the electorate who have an involvement in the domestic violence prevention space and with organisations that help women, children, families, victims across the board of domestic violence. It's a sector that's always under a lot of pressure, Dave, they can always do with more funding.
They do a wonderful job with what they have, but our resources right across the Cootamundra electorate are under pressure. They are really, really stretched and so I continue to meet with those groups to learn more about what they're doing to support people on the ground and to really understand what more they need from government in terms of that support, and we know that the state government has made many announcements of additional funding and resourcing in the domestic violence space and it's incumbent upon them that the distribution of those resources doesn't stop at the city.
We have a great need out here in the regions, it's very, very unfortunate and we know that our Police are doing a wonderful job to clamp down on it, but we must make sure that the wraparound services that our people so desperately need are available out here in the bush and I continue to reach out to Ministers to make the point in Macquarie Street that we cannot be forgotten out here.
Dave Eisenhauer: And that’s so true and we talk with New South Police every Friday and unfortunately that's a sad story but on a week goes by where there's a domestic violence issue that's made making the rosters making the callouts for our Police service it's something that needs to be kept in discussion of course with Turn It Purple an event that's coming up very soon raising awareness for domestic violence, Steph that's something we should get involved in.
Steph Cooke: Oh absolutely, Friday the 22nd of November from Recollection Day I'll certainly be wearing purple on that day unfortunately I won't be in the electorate because Parliament continues to sit on a Friday in Sydney on that day, but I'll be absolutely with them in spirit and helping them promote the event in the lead-up to that day everything that we can do as a community to lift the lid on what is happening in this space to have those important conversations.
I know that they're not always easy, a bit like mental health, which I'm sure we will catch up with on soon, but we need to continue to really turn our mind and what more we can do to make sure that our people are safe.
Dave Eisenhauer: Steph, let's talk show season, of course, our agricultural shows, a showcase of communities, and you've been very busy Weethalle, Ganmain, Grenfell, Junee, Woodstock, West Wyalong, and look, Wagga Show is coming up. There's so many shows on this circuit around the group, and you managed to get to quite a few of those, in fact, just about every single one of them, Steph, which is a remarkable effort.
Steph Cooke: Oh, look, I do my best, Dave, sometimes it's quite difficult given that Springtime has become a time when we don't just see our shows, our agricultural shows, which I think when you and I were growing up, that was the pinnacle of the year, really.
Dave Eisenhauer: Yeah, it was.
Steph Cooke: Yeah, we're also seeing other groups put on their events in Spring to take advantage of the magnificent seasons that we have out here, the canola, the weather. It's all beautiful and so what I'm finding year after year is more community events in addition to our shows, but they still remain a really, really important feature on our annual calendar and most recently, I attended the Barellan show.
I had the great privilege of officially opening that show, it's always very exciting to be able to participate in that sort of a way.
But I spent hours out there, and we know that that's where so much work happens with Clydesdale’s, and so I caught up with my good mate, Bruce Bandy, and we had a good chat about their upcoming event just in a few weeks now with the working Clydesdale's weekend, the good old times that happens out there, and just more generally just catching up with that community, and then turned around the next day and headed three and a half hours north to the Woodstock show, and that's in the far north of the electorate.
And if anyone is ever looking for a great show that they may not have otherwise thought about, the Woodstock show is a fantastic event on their calendar, and, of course, we've got Junee coming up Ardlethan, I'm doing the official opening of that show.
Just every single weekend, it just rolls from one to another at the moment, doesn't it, Dave?
Dave Eisenhauer: It sure does.
And the highlight, we've got to mention there, Steph, if you're catching up with, I think, one of the youngest shearers I've seen, eight -year -old, Wagga shearer, Jax Woods,
Steph Cooke: Eight years, Wow, isn't that just fantastic?
Dave Eisenhauer: Good on him.
Steph Cooke: That's great. I have tried to shear a sheep, and it did not end well. More for me than the sheep. I think the sheep was quite all right.
But it takes a lot of effort and physical energy and agility, and, wow, I think at eight years of age, he's getting right in amongst that. That just blows my mind. It's fantastic.
Dave Eisenhauer: Isn't it great to see because I know we have a lot of Australian shearers, New Zealand shearers, particularly in the region.
It's a big, tough job, but have somebody eight years of age into the industry already, he's got a huge feature ahead of him, let's hope he sticks it out at eight years and, of course, taking the quick shear competition there too.
And these Ag shows are fantastic things and that's great to see younger people coming on to show societies as well to become part of the step, we're going to talk more about shows as we go through in the weeks.
But we must mention today because it's R U O K day and the reason that you're on the road out there on the Coota Road, you're off to Gundagai today, Steph.
Steph Cooke: Yes, I am, Dave. It's R U O K Day today? And we talk about, you know, fixtures on the calendar, and this one is a very, very important one in relation to mental health.
And down in Gundagai today, we are seeing a bake off between the Gundagai Men's Shed and the Gundagai CWA.
Dave Eisenhauer: It's going to be a show that one.
Steph Cooke: It's going to be absolutely incredible, I'm heading there. The community is most welcome to come to The Ex-Services Club at 11 o 'clock. And it's one of those occasions where I'm actually disappointed not to be judging,
Dave, because If there's one thing that I enjoy more than most other things, it's consuming cake. I do a lot of it, and what a perfect excuse if you're judging such a competition.
But I think it's going to be a lot of fun, and most importantly, it's in aid of breaking down some of those stigmas that people experience in being reluctant to talk about mental health and when people are struggling, what we need them to do is to reach out and have a conversation.
We don't want people bottling things up and letting things to sort of deteriorate for them and their families and their own mental health, and there's many, many support services and structures out there.
But I think the other thing that we can do and what today's all about is asking somebody else are you okay? and it shouldn't just be today of course but it's a good reminder but we should be doing it on a regular basis.
We know that our young people in particular are facing more mental health challenges now than at any other time in modern history in Australia that worries us as you know as community leaders, and we need to make sure that right across the board everybody feels as though they've got someone to talk to if they find themselves struggling.
Dave Eisenhauer: And well done to those community groups and there's a stack of them here we've got on air. We're talking about the different libraries in the region of course the Gundagai Services Club today with their bake-off and that big competition that the men shed versus CWA, wow, it's going to be a show and we're going to cross to Steve Maynard just after 11 o 'clock live from that event actually, Steve's part of the shed and we'll find out what's happening there.
But Steph, we must mention two, local government elections, very important. People heading off to the, I notice pre -polling is really popular these days.
Steph Cooke: Oh, look, it is, Dave. It's an opportunity for people to get that voting done early if they do have other commitments on the day where they're unable to attend a polling booth and people definitely should take advantage of that if they need to.
Look, it's an important event that occurs in relation to democracy at a local level, across the Cootamundra electorate, we've got well over 100 candidates that are putting their names forward to represent their local communities across nine local government areas.
I don't think that the elections in the Cootamundra Gundagai Regional Council can be overstated in any way this is a critical election for this community.
We will be continuing our journey towards demerge. We are hopeful that we will have a decision in the not too distant future from the Minister in relation to that and what we really need are good, strong community advocates from right across the existing council area that can work collaboratively, should we receive that decision from the Minister that we're very much hoping for in relation to being able to demerge, so what we need are people that can work towards that end, and make sure that should we be demerging which I am fighting for and very hopeful of that we have the right community leaders that can lead that process, because it will be challenging and every person in the Cootamundra Gundagai area has the opportunity this Saturday to keep that in mind when they're casting their vote.
But congratulations to all candidates who have put their names forward it's not an easy thing to do and thank you so much for being willing to represent your community at this local level.
Dave Eisenhauer: absolutely and of course that the distance of as we've talked about a lot with Ab and others over the years.
Let's hope there's a nice equal share across both our bigger major towns, the major towns in the Cootamundra Gundagai electorate as we head towards Saturday night when the counting will be underway.
Steph were nearly out of a time, just to wrap up, a couple of key messages in there too. We've got quite a few grants and projects underway across the region.
Steph Cooke: Oh, look, absolutely, Dave, and there's more Memorial funding open at the moment, there's some opportunities in the Senior space but if anybody would like further information on what is available, please reach out to my Junee office or look us up on the web we are more than happy to help you in any way shape or form to keep these important projects rolling on in terms of our electorate.
Dave Eisenhauer: oh look and there's so many opportunities there round 10 of the Community Road Safety grants there's a stack for them Steph, in a fortnight's time you and I going to talk more there's so many things we can talk about Steph I can't believe how, I mean your office is it must just never sleep, there's so many things to keep up today with all the time but we look forward to hearing how the bake-off goes today of course R U O K day the big message today check on a mate find out how things are traveling and we'll be crossing to where you are at just after 11 o 'clock today Steph, thank you so much for your time
Steph Cooke: Thanks so much for having me again Dave, and I look forward to catching up with you soon possibly from Gundagai Live with Steve Maynard a little bit later.
Dave Eisenhauer: Absolutely, we look forward to it. Hopefully there's a taste test of these cakes that have been baked and on exhibit and vying for the, I don't know what, what is it, best cake. I know how it works at a show society level, but I'm not sure. We'll find out at 11 o 'clock.
Steph Cooke: That sounds good to me. Thanks, Dave.
Dave Eisenhauer: Thank you, Steph.
Well, there you go. Love catching up. Member Cootamundra. Steph Cook are joining us there. And there's so much to chat about. I mean, there's so many different projects underway. But importantly, the R U O.K bake-off, CWA versus the Shed, the Gundagai Shed.
The Temora, Farming Open Day, that's coming up on the 13th, that's tomorrow. The local government elections, of course, this Saturday. The Festival of Gundagai is underway to the 20th, September.
We'll be talking more about those with Steph in the fortnight's time on a Thursday in rotation with Michael from Wagga, of course the Member for the Riverina, but we appreciate the Member of the Cootamundra’s time each and every Thursday, fortnight here on the local station.
Commentaires