Got something you want to say? Quick word comments can be on any topic relevant to the New England, up to 100 words.
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QW: No Doctors, no policy, no numbers
Re: No doctors, no policy, no numbers: Hunter New England Health hides severity of situation
All hospitals have to be accredited to meet Australian Quality & Safety standards in Health Care, so my question is how are the hospitals named can maintain accreditation if standards are not met and detrimental to patient care?
Hunter New England health must be aware of the failing of 3 of the 8 standards required.
Rural doctors are a rarity and enticing new doctors from the cities is extremely difficult. Bigger base hospitals who train Junior Medical Officers should be rostering them out to the rural hospitals when they have completed their training.
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QW: North Coast Times
Congratulations on your North Coast Times venture – I share backgrounds from Armidale & Dorrigo/ the coast, and look forward to your future coverage!
QW: As I see Barnaby’s defection
It’s fairly simple. If I’d been gagged at the last election from campaigning by my party leader and encouraged by the Coalition leader to resign, I’d get the message that I was no longer wanted!
I observed such behaviour regarding another politician when living elsewhere. Some personalities do not lend themselves to total subservience. Members of my family grew up with Barnaby and attest to a very unusual and intelligent man.
One Nation does not expect to form Government but, as many fringe parties aim, seeks to draw attention to issues they consider are damaging this country. I am still a member of the Nationals and will remain so, but I do not condemn all One Nation’s input.
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QW: Barnaby Joyce
I disagree wholeheartedly with Denise’s comments on Barnaby Joyce today.
He got out of the national party because he was no longer aligned to their ideology, infighting with liberals, marriage on then off again. He saw what was happening in his own party.
I saw him in the streets here in Bendemeer where I live and said to him, you are now on the right side of politics now you’re with One Nation.
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QW: Politicians need to stop talking and start doing
If it took us all 3 years to pass a suggestion at our workplace, nothing would get done. That is this Parliament now.
We know we are giving away our natural resources, we know we are selling our country out from under us so please, please politicians get off your soap boxes and change the rules for the betterment of Australians.
Stop talking and actually do something about what we all know needs doing. Most times actions speak louder than words so start to get off your overpaid seats and actually do some work that the Australian people are over paying you to do.
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QW: Blaming Albanese for the Coalition Split Is Political Delusion
The Nationals blaming Anthony Albanese today for the Coalition split is not analysis — it’s farce.
The Prime Minister didn’t walk into the Coalition party room. He didn’t force Nationals senators to defy their own shadow cabinet. He didn’t tell them to torch collective responsibility and then act surprised when the roof collapsed.
They did that themselves.
This wasn’t Labor dividing the Coalition. It was the Nationals once again choosing tantrum over discipline, spectacle over substance.
After a bruising election defeat, the Coalition needed seriousness. Instead, the Nationals delivered a public meltdown — and now blames Labor for the mess they created.
That doesn’t demonstrate strength. It demonstrates a party that is no longer serious about governing.
And a party that cannot manage itself, cannot honour its own decisions, and cannot tell the truth about its own behaviour does not deserve the automatic support of the bush.
Regional Australia deserves representation that fights for outcomes — not one that mistakes chaos for conviction and blame-shifting for leadership.
Anthony Albanese didn’t break the Coalition.
The Nationals did.
And pretending otherwise only confirms just how far they’ve drifted from being a serious political party at all.
Denise McHugh is an experienced educator in Tamworth. She is Chair of the NSW ALP Education and Skills Committee and Deputy President of the Independent Education Union (IEU).
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QW: Barnaby’s not doing his job
Barnaby Joyce is touring Victoria’s bushfire-affected regions campaigning for One Nation candidates in a state election. Not his state. Not his electorate. Not his job.
New England elected him to represent them — not to act as a roaming campaign manager for Pauline Hanson. Yet here he is, inserting himself into Victorian politics while the community that returned him to Parliament is effectively sidelined.
This is not a harmless side hustle. It is a clear statement of priorities. Mr Joyce is no longer behaving like the Member for New England. He is behaving like a One Nation operative.
At some point, voters are entitled to ask the obvious question: who does Barnaby Joyce actually represent?
QW: When will real estate’s learn?
12 months ago after a change in fortunes I went from being a home owner to renting again. On one level it was great – didn’t have the stress of a mortgage, had space to reorganise my affairs, and we rented a much nicer house than the one we previously owned!
But I have been truly shocked at how badly real estate agents still treat renters. No, it’s absolutely not ok to leave people with no hot water or with airconditioning not working for days on end, just show up when it’s convenient for you, or all of the other things agents do to make people feel subhuman and vulnerable.
Renters become buyers. As will I again as soon as possible. And the agent that has treated us so badly for the last year, on learning we are looking at buying again, suddenly pivots to sales mode and thinks we would consider any property on their books? You’ve got to be joking.
When will real estate agents learn that they can’t treat renters like crap and expect it not to affect the sales side of the business?
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QW: Sad to see Tara go
It is sad to hear that Tara will be leaving 2AD later in the year we have got used to having her there to listen to in the mornings she is going to be sorely missed.
Kind regards Clayton and Vicki Gilmour
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QW: Un answered questions editorial
I believe a large section of the NE community totally congratulate the NET for asking very serious questions about the Rail Trail funding from the REZ proponents, ARC and Tf NSW.
There is simply no way the region’s economy, lifestyle and future can exist without a quality freight and passenger rail service.
The region has as many as 100.000 kms of bike trails and tracks that are largely documented. https://www.newenglandhighcountry.com.au/cycling-in-armidale shows the tip of the iceberg.
The concept of Rail Trails in Armidale, Regions and State is fundamentally unsound, based on questionable statistics and absence of KPI’s to report outcomes.
I encourage the NETimes to expose the true facts.
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