The Country Women’s Association (CWA) of NSW is calling for greater financial protection for landholders from mining exploration, urgent action on the quality of health services for rural and regional communities and an increased supply of social and affordable housing for older women in both metropolitan and regional areas of NSW.

These issues were among more than 30 motions – including three motions of urgency – discussed and debated at this year’s CWA of NSW state conference in Sydney, with successful motions to spearhead the association’s advocacy efforts over the next 12 months.

A call for a ban on political donations from fossil fuel companies, Country of Origin labelling laws, the need for more women’s refuges, improved monitoring of river heights in flood-prone areas, and the need for more school counsellors were also on the agenda.

Successful motions included:

• That the CWA of NSW demand that the state and federal governments take immediate action on the current crisis in the provision of primary medical services in rural NSW (motion of urgency) – Inverell Sunrise branch;
• Opposition to any increase in the annual and ongoing financial burden on farm businesses through a proposed new State Property Tax on farmland (motion of urgency) – State Executive;
• Greater support for sufferers of endometriosis around diagnosis and treatment costs – Terrigal Evening branch;
• The need for adequate rainfall and river heights data to be available to communities along flood-prone river systems – Bonshaw branch;
• Advocacy for the mandatory establishment of specialist domestic violence operative teams in all police area districts – Jervis Bay Day branch;
• An increased supply of affordable housing, specifically targeting older women, in both city and country areas of NSW – Woy Woy branch;
• Support for Transplant Australia’s program to encourage live kidney donations – Berry branch;
• Increased funding to establish and operate women’s refuges, particularly in rural areas – Exeter branch;
• Advocating for improved obstetric services and care in rural and remote areas of NSW – Coonamble Evening branch; and
• More counsellors and psychologists in the state’s schools – Wagga Wagga Evening branch.

The motions endorsed at this year’s conference will now be taken forward and form the basis of CWA lobbying efforts for the next 12 months, supported by the strength of more than 8000 voices who not only expect, but demand, better outcomes for regional NSW communities.

This article appeared in the Narrandera Argus, 19 May 2022.