New guide sets consultation rules for regional NSW

A NEW state-wide consultation guide will require NSW Government agencies to meet clear standards when engaging with regional, rural and remote communities.

The release of the Regional Communities Consultation Guide follows the introduction of the Regional Communities (Consultation Standards) Act 2024, put forward by Independent Member for Barwon Roy Butler.

For the first time, the legislation makes compliance with the Guide mandatory, establishing a formal standard for involving affected communities in decision-making processes.

State Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said it was a positive outcome for the community.

“I spoke in Parliament in support of the Member for Barwon’s Bill on this because we needed a better standard for government consultation with regional, remote and rural communities,” Saffin said.

“The release of this guide is a step in the right direction, and I welcome the Government’s action in ensuring solutions in our communities are informed by the people most impacted.”

The Guide is informed by stakeholder engagement across regional and rural areas, including input from peak bodies such as the NSW Aboriginal Land Council, Local Government NSW and the Country Mayors Association.

About 200 people participated in eight regional listening sessions, including in Lismore.

Premier Chris Minns said the legislation and guide aimed to make engagement more meaningful.

“No one knows what a local community needs better than the people who actually call that place home,” Minns said.

“That’s what this is about, ensuring that the people impacted by the decisions we make are a part of the decision-making process.

“Every community is different, from large regional centres to small remote villages, and the people within these communities are equally different and diverse too.

“Our engagement and solutions as a government should reflect that.”

The Guide will be rolled out across agencies for immediate use and can be viewed at haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/consultation-regional-communities