Unexpected scenes in Tweed spark cabinet chaos

PROTESTERS calling for an end to the war in Gaza repeatedly disrupted the NSW Community Cabinet meeting at Twin Towns in Tweed Heads today.

NSW Premier Chris Minns and his ministers fielded questions from hundreds of residents, community groups and service providers at the event, which was the eighth held across the state.

Several hecklers were removed by security and NSW Police after a coordinated protest by Gaza advocates interrupted proceedings.

Despite the disruptions, Minns and his cabinet answered questions on housing, mental health, education, TAFE, banking services and parking at the new Tweed Hospital.

Minns said housing pressures were the dominant concern raised by locals.

“The massive pressure on housing is an issue right across the state, but particularly prevalent here on the North Coast, where you’ve got some of the highest increases in rents, highest increases in house prices, alongside a reduction in stock as a result of natural disasters, cyclones, and weather events that have hammered the housing market,” he said.

“We know that we need to do more, and we need to do it urgently.”

He cited a report showing 40,000 young people had left NSW, many to Queensland.

“NSW can’t survive with that kind of loss of talent,” Minns said.

“These are the people that we want to open their businesses, to become police officers, to become teachers, to become soccer and cricket coaches, to become presidents of P&Cs.

“That’s not going to happen if they don’t have a roof over their heads.”

Minns confirmed the government would buy a site on Soorley Street, Tweed Heads, to turn into emergency homelessness accommodation, adding to 355 social and affordable housing units already planned for the electorate.

“We are not coming here to say mission accomplished or the job is done – it’s just the beginning of the mountain that we need to climb when it comes to new housing in one of the most expensive places in Australia,” he said.

Minns also criticised banks for scaling back services in regional towns.

“They have a social license and they’re backed by the Commonwealth Government, by your tax dollars, and they’ve got a reciprocal obligation to provide essential services in the community,” he said.

“If the government can do it, then these major financial institutions can do exactly the same.”

Mental health was another key focus, with Tony O’Toole from Mongrels Men charity questioning the cost of care and lack of services in the Tweed.

Minister for Mental Health Rose Jackson said a Medicare Mental Health Centre was planned for Tweed, and a new local grant program would support grassroots organisations, particularly those targeting men’s mental health.

“The funding is locked in and the Commonwealth Government is contributing funding that is in the budget,” Jackson said.

“We are working with Healthy North Coast to identify a site, and they’re doing some community consultation soon about the right place in the Tweed for that.”

On education, Minns said Minister for Education and deputy premier Pru Carr – currently on leave for cancer treatment – had driven nation-leading changes in public schools.

“Explicit learning, particularly in the early years, is essential so a foundation can be built, particularly for reading and comprehension,” Minns said.

“Phonics went out of fashion for many years, but we believe, and the educational research indicates, it is essential to see children progress.

“And if we were voted out of office tomorrow, the single best decision that we made is to ban mobile phones in NSW schools.

“I know many adults, myself included, who lack the discipline and self-control to put them down and to think a child has the maturity to focus on Shakespeare or a maths problem or a science issue when they’ve got a mobile phone buzzing in their pocket is ridiculous. I hope it’s never reversed.”