CWA of NSW state conference endorses advocacy efforts related to urgent health, energy and environmental reform

Good afternoon,

The Country Women's Association (CWA) of NSW's State Conference is on in Forster this week.

More than 600 members are in attendance and there's more than 50 policy motions, brought by branches around the state, up for discussion and debate.

Successful motions go on to form the association's advocacy direction for the next 12 months.

At the conclusion of day 2, motions that have been endorsed by delegates include advocating for:

·         The regulation of the sale of plants that are identified as weeds or have the potential to become weeds - brought by Mascot Evening Branch and South Grafton Evening Branch   

·         Compulsory community consultation before the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development approves test and/or exploratory drilling by mining companies - Warren Branch

·         The mandating of country-of-origin labelling for all meat products served in hospitality outlets through the establishment and enforcement of consistent information and labelling standards to ensure transparency for consumers -  Guyra Evening Branch

·         The adoption of best-practice invasive pest-control methodologies consistent with those advanced by CSIRO and endorsed national frameworks for pest and weed management - Coonamble Evening Branch

·         The reform of consultation on large-scale renewable energy developments, including transmission lines, to ensure communities have real authority and influence over decisions, with engagement conducted under transparent, community-defined rules and free from non-disclosure agreement - Agricultural & Environmental Committee

·         Ensuring that new hospitals are fully staffed, across nursing, allied health and medical specialists, to operate to designed capacity and meet the healthcare needs of their local community - Barellan Branch

·         The acceleration of the implementation of the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022 2032, in line with the recommendations of the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission, to ensure measurable progress in prevention, response and recovery for women and children - Tumut and Surrounds Branch

·         The publishing of the locations of all newly-funded endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics, and prioritise the establishment of clinics in rural and regional NSW (particularly west of the Great Dividing Range) where specialist services are limited, to ensure equitable access for women and girls in those communities - Terrigal Evening Branch

·         That the policy of the CWA of NSW be to advocate the Commonwealth Government to review specialist medical fees and increase the Medicare rebate such that out-of-pocket costs for patients are substantially reduced - Uranquinty Evening Branch

Voting on the motions will continue tomorrow, including five urgency motions related to fuel security, the maintenance of critical road links between western NSW areas and the coast, opposition to compulsory land acquisition for the likes of roads and pipelines.

To see a full list of motions, go to  https://www.cwaofnsw.org.au/Web/News-Events/AGM.aspx?WebsiteKey=ddcc261e-eaa5-49f8-9ecf-15d3f3092904&hkey=ece37cc2-f24e-447d-8089-f0afca373011&5f22497aac73=2#5f22497aac73 

For any inquiries, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Kind regards,

Kylie Galbraith
Seftons
Ph. 0411 480 208