Phil Donato column: Member for Orange meets with new NSW premier Dom Perrottet

I discussed a number of things with the new Premier however, I highlighted a list of priorities for the electorate.

I detailed a number of investment opportunities which I have advocated for since being elected, such as extending the Bullet daily passenger train service, and some of which are considered essential and need urgent attention, such as a Positron Emission Tomography Scanner for the Orange Health Service, and a school hall at the Trundle Central School. Others are longer term projects which would derive economic and employment opportunities, such as the Mount Canobolas Mountain Bike Trails project.

I also pointed out some deficiencies in our frontline workforce.

The Premier was highly engaging throughout the meeting and the feedback I got was that he would review my listed priorities for consideration in the next budget.

The new variant of COVID-19 named Omicron was first identified just a few short weeks ago in southern Africa. It has already found its way to our shores, with inbound travellers testing positive to this new strain.

Omicron is believed to be highly transmissible, even more so than the Delta variant that rapidly spread into the regions and prompted the nation-wide vaccination scheme. It isn't yet known how effective current vaccinations are against Omicron.

In spite of the success of restrictions, coupled with the vaccination program, which has seen the decline in the numbers of infection, we should not become complacent.

We're still experiencing some cases here locally, so we need to continue COVID testing. Even you have the most minor of flu-like symptoms, get tested. Don't just write that sneeze or running nose off as hay fever.

Last week the NSW Legislative Assembly finished a lengthy debate on the polarising Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2021, introduced to NSW Parliament earlier this year by the Member for Sydney Alex Greenwich.

Debate was prolonged with a great number of amendments, introduced from both members who supported the Bill, and members who did not support the Bill. I voted in support of the Bill, which passed with 52 votes for and 32 votes against.

The Bill has now been referred to the Legislative Council Standing Committee on Law and Justice for inquiry, and the report will be finalised by the first sitting day of 2022 for consideration of the Upper House before the Bill is debated there.

With prolonged rain across the state many communities have been flood affected.

The LGAs of Bathurst, Blayney, Blue Mountains, Brewarrina, Broken Hill, Cabonne, Cobar, Cowra, Forbes, Gilgandra, Gunnedah, Gwydir, Lachlan Shire, Moree Plains, Narrabri, Port Macquarie Hastings, Tenterfield, Upper Hunter, Warrumbungle and Weddin have all been declared areas of natural disaster from flood and storm.

The onset of La Nia will see the conditions prevail and it may be some time before the floodwaters fully recede. The damage and interruptions to people's lives and livelihoods are substantial.

Farmers' crops have been destroyed or significantly damaged, livestock in the flood zone have been lost and farm infrastructure such as fences have been wrecked. I recently toured the flood zone at Forbes, and the damage to roads, buildings and family homes. I also toured Molong on Saturday to inspect flood damage to local businesses.

The flood damage is yet to be calculated, but it will be costly and require a lot of work in repair.

I want to acknowledge the people affected by the storms and flooding, and would encourage the residents of the Local Government Areas classified for natural disaster in the list above to contact Resilience NSW for disaster relief and support.

Flood and storm affected primary producers, small business, sport and recreation clubs, not-for-profits, individuals and families can enquire online at https://www.nsw.gov.au/resilience-nsw or call 13 77 88.

A big shout out to all the SES, emergency services, local councils and volunteers who've worked tirelessly in the flood-affected communities - thank you!