The Hon. AILEEN MacDONALD (15:00): I take note of the answer provided by the Minister for Regional New South Wales with regard to youth in regional New South Wales. From my perspective, the Government is celebrating an announcement, not delivering outcomes. The Government talks a big game about the $15.6 million for PCYC programs and $12 million for place‑based responses and a handful of caseworkers. I have no doubt that PCYC is a fantastic organisation, but the Government has not demonstrated a single measurable improvement in youth justice outcomes in New South Wales. There is no evidence of reduced offending, no improvement in bail compliance, no increase in school engagement and no culturally appropriate community‑chosen service expansion. It is a press release in progress.

Programs were already running. The Government is repackaging the existing work by PCYC, which operates in Walgett, Bourke, Moree, Kempsey, Lismore and other places. The Government has simply rebadged ongoing programs and declared victory rather than expanding actual service coverage. The Government is ignoring the youth justice crisis it helped to create and, while supporting small‑scale prevention programs, has failed to deliver bail support outside a few towns. It has failed to expand therapeutic evidence‑based alternatives. I could go on. Regional communities continue to call out gaps in drug and alcohol treatment, mental health support, youth workers, family services, transport access and crisis accommodation. None of this has been addressed.

Communities keep saying the same thing: This is not enough. From Moree to Tamworth to Kempsey, stakeholders say there is no long‑term funding certainty, no workforce pipeline, no genuine partnerships with Aboriginal community controlled organisations, no capital upgrade to youth spaces and no transport solutions for young people who need to attend programs. A government that is serious about regional youth safety would be delivering place‑based, therapeutic, long‑term solutions, not small pilot programs and glossy releases.