The first meeting of the NSW Premier’s Rural, Remote & Regional Advisory Council (PRRRAC) for 2026 saw the initiative gaining momentum and structure, according to Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA) Chairman, Mayor Rick Firman OAM (of Temora Shire), who left the meeting delighted with how positive and constructive it was.
Mayor Firman is Co-Chairman of the PRRRAC, alongside NSW Premier the Hon. Chris Minns MP, with CMA Policy Advisor, Mrs Julie Briggs supporting the Premier’s Policy and Secretariat team.
“Our Premier is genuine about hearing directly from rural, remote and regional communities and he is giving the PRRRAC his genuine attention. This is a most efficient and effective forum to facilitate that direct engagement and we’re making the most of it,” Mayor Firman said. “The Premier is fair dinkum about this and we’ll continue to work hard beside him and his Department to ensure remote, rural and regional communities are given a fair go.”
“We advised our Premier of the challenges, the potential solutions to those challenges and also shared the great initiatives that are happening in rural, remote and regional NSW,” he said. “The financial sustainability of rural, remote and regional local government was flagged as an urgent matter of critical concern and we will be writing to the Premier to elaborate on this critical issue. Affordability and supply of housing was also raised by PRRRAC members.”
A Drought & Water Working Party (DWWP) has been formed from within the PRRRAC, including external members, Mayor Lea Parker (Greater Hume Shire) and former CMA Board member and former Mayor of Narromine Shire, Cr Craig Davies. NSW Rural Doctors Network CEO Dr Richard Colbran PhD is the DWWWP Chairman.
“Appropriately, NSW Minister for Regional NSW and Agriculture, the Hon Tara Moriarty MLC is a member of PRRRAC. She has committed to work with the CMA and our drought impacted Local Government Areas to get through extreme drought conditions throughout parts of NSW,” Mayor Firman said. ‘Water is obviously a key focus for the PRRRAC also.”
“The PRRRAC is essentially brand new, however, all of us are working hard to ensure we make the most of this rare and special opportunity to lobby and advocate for all things rural, remote and regional NSW,” Mayor Firman said.
“Premier Minns has allocated senior staff from Premier’s Department to assist with the progress of the PRRRAC. It is great to see our Premier listening and wanting to help us. We’re confident PRRRAC is going to prove our worth’, Mayor Firman added.
The PRRRAC was a lobbying win for the Country Mayors Association of NSW Board, unanimously applauded by all 89 members.