I would be ashamed to be successful in denying jobs to those who  might become workers there, or to build it, or the businesses in Harden who would provide services and the farmers growing grain for feed and their wives and families.

Accordingly, we are entitled to ask if Ms Ryan has a paid job to support her or do taxpayers, that is workers, do it and if she is a ratepayer in Harden or do we do that as well.

The Census says Australia’s biggest religious category is now “no religion”.

But isn’t saying you have “no religion” a lie – or at least a misunderstanding?

If religion means a “system of faith”, then we’ve all got one. You get out of bed. You put faith in the floor remaining a reality while you’re putting faith in its support.

“No-religion” persons often put faith in the “certainty” of science.

Yet the thing most certain about science is that it can’t give certainty.

Tomorrow, science will tell us that what it said today was wrong.

Our other objects of worship – money, sport, sex etc. – are fleeting distractions.

Far from certainty, they give you dumbing-down. Anybody willing to spare some time can think his way through to three basic certainties:

(1) God exists.

(2) Our souls are immortal.

(3) There is a Natural Moral Law distinguishing good from evil.

NAIDOC Week runs from July 2 to 9 and has the theme “Our Language Matters”. The emphasis of this week is to celebrate the unique role language plays in linking Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to their cultural identity, land and people. Today, only around 120 of some 250 distinct indigenous languages are still spoken, with many at risk of being lost. Youth Off The Streets is trying fix this.

My organisation has specific programs that are run to connect our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people to their culture and I believe that this is one of the best ways to help our young people make positive choices and achieve their full potential.  

The unfortunate truth is that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians make up around 27 per cent of our prison population, have high suicide rates and an overall lower life expectancy. We cannot sit idly while these issues are still faced by Australians, we need to take action.

Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, I’ve seen so many young people turn their lives around through simply connecting with their culture, land and people. We know that connecting young indigenous people with Aboriginal Elders and our own Aboriginal youth workers ensures that they have cultural guidance in their most formative years. 

This NAIDOC Week, I implore you to take part in your local events. Join me in encouraging our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people to connect with their community and history and achieve greatness. 

This state budget, despite what the LNP party members crow about, makes it clear the sandstone curtain is still a hurdle for fair treatment of rural and regional areas.

They cannot seem to get it through their heads that there is more to NSW than Sydney. It’s beyond a joke.