The Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA) has locked in an outstanding line-up of political leaders, policy makers, and housing experts for its highly anticipated General (members) Meeting at NSW Parliament House on Friday, 28 August 2026. The night before the meeting, Australia’s Prime Minister the Hon Anthony Albanese MP will be the keynote guest speaker at a special CMA dinner function, with 150 members and guests set to attend.

With the regional housing crisis escalating across rural, remote, and regional Local Government Areas, CMA Chairman, Mayor Rick Firman OAM of Temora Shire, announced that housing is the core theme of the meeting and one of the priority concerns of the CMA’s 89 Member Councils. “Skilled labour shortages, even building materials supply and cost variability are housing crisis contributing factors; these are certainly worse in rural, regional and remote NSW than in Sydney.”

The meeting will bring country Mayors and General Managers face-to-face with some of the key identities in NSW politics, housing and infrastructure. The confirmed guest speaker line-up includes:

• Ms Kellie Sloane MP – NSW Opposition Leader
• The Hon. Rose Jackson MLC – NSW Housing Minister
• Mr Anthony Wing – New IPART Chairman
• Ms Rebecca Pinkstone – Homes NSW CEO
• Ms Linda Scott – NSW Grants Commission Chair
• Mr Brett Whitworth – NSW Office of Local Government Deputy Secretary
• The Hon. Chris Rath MLC – NSW Shadow Housing Minister
• Ms Carolyn Doherty – Argyle Housing CEO

In addition to the keynote speakers, the event will feature targeted case-study presentations from Byron Shire Council and Forbes Shire Council, highlighting grassroots housing challenges and innovative solutions being developed on the ground.

Mayor Firman said housing remains one of the most critical barriers to the long-term sustainability and economic growth. “Many of our rural, remote and regional councils are at an absolute tipping point. Their revenue cannot keep up with their increasing expenses. The housing crisis is inhibiting the economic growth needed to boost rate-bases and consequently, our revenue,” Mayor Firman said.

“We cannot build thriving communities if our essential workers, young families, vulnerable residents and others cannot find a place to live.”

“To have the Housing Minister, the Opposition Leader, the Shadow Minister, and the heads of Homes NSW, IPART, and Argyle Housing all in the same room at Parliament House shows the gravity of this issue. We are not just there to talk about the problems; we are there to hear from both sides of politics, listen to and question them and encourage collaboration with our Country Mayors and their Councils,” Mayor Firman said.