While in Broken Hill on Wednesday as part of a Roundtable tour across regional communities, the Minister for Regional NSW and Western NSW, Tara Moriarty, hit back at criticism that she “fled to the regions” instead of fronting up before a parliamentary committee in Sydney.
Ms Moriarty, who was in Broken Hill alongside NSW Premier Chris Minns and Barwon MP Roy Butler, joined the supplementary budget estimates hearing via Webex on Wednesday morning for just over an hour for what was originally intended to be a four-hour appearance.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday afternoon, the Minister responded to the heavy disapproval from committee members by saying that, as per her responsibilities and portfolio, it was important to meet with local communities in the western parts of the state.
“I’m here in western New South Wales as the Minister for Western New South Wales. I work for the people of western New South Wales. I am the Minister for Regional New South Wales and I work for the people of regional New South Wales,” she said.
“I had to reschedule some commitments to meet with community groups here today to attend the budget estimates hearing, which I did. Very happy to answer questions. Unfortunately, most of the questions were about why I was in Broken Hill and not in the Parliament.
“Macquarie Street stunts are not what people in Broken Hill or Western NSW are interested in. People in these communities want to engage with the government. They want to engage with me as the Minister. They want to engage with the Premier. They want to engage with their local member about the issues that matter here and how government can support them.”
Ms Moriarty was backed up by the Premier, with Mr Minns saying his Minister was in her right to be in the Far West community, telling media “The people of regional NSW want to talk directly to the politicians of this state, and they’re sick of Question Time and the fights in Parliament”.
“I’d much rather have one of my Ministers in the region speaking directly to local Mayors, local businesses, local chamber of commerce presidents, than mucking around in Parliament House and having an endless fight in the bear pit of the New South Wales Parliament”, he continued.
