The Hon. AILEEN MacDONALD (22:05): Sale-o, sale-o, what do you bid for the future of regional livestock? This evening I talk about the upgrade of the Guyra and Armidale saleyards and what it means for my hometown of Guyra and our region. In 2017, before I entered the Parliament, I was on the hustings for council and serving as president of the Guyra and District Chamber of Commerce. Back then, those of us in local business and agriculture could see the writing on the wall. If nothing was done, the Guyra saleyards risked being bypassed by not just trucks but also opportunity. The facilities were ageing and the competitors were investing. We knew that if we wanted Guyra to remain on the map as a serious livestock centre, we had to act. Local producers, livestock agents, transport operators and small businesses were all saying the same thing: If we did not invest then, we would miss the boat.

As chamber president, I worked with others to put the saleyards firmly on the radar. We lobbied council and we told the story of what the yards meant to our town in not just dollars but also community, connection and confidence. To its credit, Armidale Regional Council listened. It recognised the saleyards as critical economic infrastructure and put forward a funding application under the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Package. Our then local member, the Hon. Adam Marshall, also saw the potential. He was a strong and persistent advocate for the project, working alongside council, industry and the community. That was a classic example of how regional communities get things done: local people with a vision, backed by a Coalition Government that understood the value of investing in the regions.

Fast-forward to 2025, it is incredibly pleasing to see that vision realised in the form of a $10 million upgrade to the Guyra and Armidale saleyards. What began as a concern that we might be left behind has become a major step forward for the region's agricultural infrastructure and economic future. At Guyra the old timber yards have been replaced with modern steel infrastructure designed for safer, more efficient handling. Stock watering systems have been upgraded, improving animal welfare and operational reliability. Road access and the ring road have been improved to reduce congestion and make it easier and safer for trucks and trailers to move through the site. The relocation of the cattle yards has improved the overall functionality of the saleyard precinct.

One of the most pleasing reports from on the ground is that producers are coming back on sale days. They do not just drop their stock and leave; they stay. They are watching their lambs and cattle go through the ring, catching up with fellow producers and enjoying the atmosphere that a well-run, well-designed saleyard can create. That is what good regional infrastructure does. It does not just move animals; it brings people together and underpins a local economy. That investment strengthens the Armidale region's position as a key hub in Australia's livestock industry. It sends a clear message that our region is open for business, that we are serious about productivity, innovation and long-term growth, and that government, when it works in partnership with local communities, can make a meaningful difference.

I particularly thank Armidale Regional Council, the staff who did the hard work on the application and delivery, Shay Brennan Constructions for its role in building the project, the livestock agents and transport companies who backed it in and, of course, the producers who continue to trust these facilities with their livelihoods. I again acknowledge Adam Marshall for his advocacy, and acknowledge the Coalition governments that put the funding framework in place after the devastating bushfires.

It is often said in politics that success has many parents. In this case, there were certainly many hands on the reins. However, let us be very clear about the sequence. Local people had the vision, council did the planning and Coalition governments backed it with funding. Others may have turned up later to cut the ribbon, but the hard yards were done long before the scissors came out. The Coalition delivered; Labor cut the ribbon. From my perspective as someone who was there in 2017, talking to local businesses and producers, working through the chamber of commerce and pushing alongside others to get this project moving, it is deeply satisfying to see it finally come to fruition.

I confess, I would have liked to have received an invitation—perhaps it is still in the mail! The upgraded Guyra and Armidale saleyards are not just new yards; they are an investment in the long-term future of our livestock industry, our small businesses and our regional communities. I place on record my pride in having played a small part in that story, and my ongoing commitment to ensuring that regional New South Wales continues to receive the infrastructure, investment and respect it deserves.