I believe the regions are really important to Australia. Ours, the Hunter Valley, has literally been a powerhouse for the state and for the nation.

But like so many regions, ours is facing challenges. We have high youth unemployment, and are looking for ways to transition from our traditional resource-based industries.

We, as Federal Parliamentarians, have a responsibility to make sure regional and rural areas and their communities are not left out in our nation’s planning.

Moving government departments from Canberra to the regions may be part of the way forward to boost our regions, or it may not. That is what our committee will investigate.

I’m looking forward to seeing what has happened elsewhere, and hearing what experts and locals think about the idea.

Cessnock City Council has put its case for attracting a government department, as both Cessnock and Kurri Kurri are in close proximity to Newcastle and Sydney.

In the words of mayor Bob Pynsent: “We are in a central location, perfectly positioned for growth and are spoilt with a fantastic lifestyle and affordable housing.”

But even if decentralisation of government departments is a good idea for the regions, it is important that the Government supports the regions in other, more fundamental, ways too.

Making sure Centrelink offices are staffed properly is a good start, and sorting out the second-rate national broadband network is also a priority.

Adequate healthcare and education will remain important.

And we must also be mindful of the costs of decentralisation, as it alone is not an economic policy.

I look forward to working with the bipartisan committee to learn more about the costs and benefits of decentralisation and make recommendations to the Federal Parliament.

Our committee will produce an issues paper by the end of August, an interim report by the end of December, and a final report by February 20. As always, if you have any ideas on this issue you would like to share with me, please be in touch via email: Meryl.swanson.mp@aph.gov.au.

Congratulations to all the Kurri Kurri Bulldogs and Lakes United fans who turned out in their beanies at the game on Saturday.

It was a great effort to support fundraising by the Mark Hughes Foundation for brain cancer research.

We may not have been victorious on the field, but what a winning gesture on the sidelines!

Well done, everyone!

Congratulations to Weston man Dallas Sinclair on being awarded the Order of Australia Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

Mr Sinclair has had a lifelong passion for rugby league as a player, coach and mentor, which has been recognised by his Cardiff club, NSW Aboriginal Rugby League, and Newcastle Rugby League.

Mr Sinclair and his wife Margaret moved to Weston five years ago to be closer to their daughter Lyn, but he remains very active in the Cardiff club.

Congratulations, also, to well-known historian Cynthia Hunter, who was made a Member of the Order of Australia.

Ms Hunter has been researching the history of the Hunter Valley since the 1970s and has written 20 books.

She has spent many years looking through archives and old documents and has now donated her collection to Maitland Library.

Without her hard work, we would not have the deep insights into our local history that we do.