Message from the Mayor

Our community was incredibly saddened to hear of the events yesterday which resulted in the tragic death of an innocent man. 

The condolences of our entire Moree Plains Shire community goes out to his loved ones, his family and friends. They will no doubt be looking for answers as to how this could have been avoided. 

More than one life was ruined yesterday. The perpetrators involved will need to live with the results of their actions, and with a critical incident investigation underway, police who already have a tough job will have their handling of the matter put under the microscope. 

There are no wins, only immeasurable loss. 

Our community has been saying for some time that enough is enough. The systems designed to protect our community and our youth are clearly not working as they should. 

I met with the Premier and Police Minister Catley in mid-November where I shared our community’s very real concerns regarding the increase in frequency and severity of youth crime. I have also requested a hearing for the NSW Government's Inquiry into Community Safety in Regional and Rural Communities to be held here in the Moree Plains. This is a complex problem and all options need to be explored in terms of how to address it and ensure community safety. 

It is however beyond the realm of Local Government. 

The NSW Government and the Premier's Department is implementing a broad range of initiatives for our community which we appreciate will take time to reveal results, but one life taken is one too many. This tragedy must be a turning point, and a catalyst for the NSW Government to take swift and decisive action to protect our community and prevent further loss.