Community & Business
5 February, 2026
Roy's Round Up - February 2, 2026
All the news from member for Barwon, Roy Butler MP
G’day folks,
For most people the summer break is over, kids will soon all be back at school and the new year is well underway. We have had some hot days in recent weeks, but hopefully the worst of the heat is over.
We have also had a tragic start to the year, with the murder of three people and an unborn baby in Lake Cargelligo in January.
Though shocked, the local community is very tight knit and resilient, people came together to support each other through the ordeal.
At the time of writing this the alleged murderer was still on the run, but police are following every lead, and I am confident that he will soon be brought to justice.
Over the last two weeks I have been travelling the electorate, visiting Narrabri, before heading out to Lake Cargelligo, and Broken Hill.
This week will be the first sitting week of the year, the first of two consecutive weeks. I will be continuing my efforts to try to wind back some of the legislation hastily passed before Christmas. I will keep you up to date with my progress.
Lake Cargelligo
The recent tragic events in Lake Cargelligo have rocked that community and raised many questions.
It is a difficult time for all those directly affected, especially given the investigation is still underway, and the alleged perpetrator has yet to be brought to justice.
At heart of this crime is the question of what more can be done with regards to domestic violence and how we can avert further tragedies. In recent years, significant investment has been directed toward strengthening support for victim survivors of domestic, family, and sexual violence (DFSV) and expanding programs aimed at reducing violence against women and children. Yet, despite these efforts, events like this show that serious gaps remain.
It is crucial we continue to examine how current programs operate, where they make a difference and where they fall short. Only by clearly understanding this can we ensure that future investments are targeted effectively and drive meaningful, lasting change.
My heart goes out to the people of Lake Cargelligo, and anyone else affected by domestic violence.
Firearms Legislation
As I said I am working with a team on doing something about the firearms legislation rammed through parliament in the days before Christmas last year.
I am constantly being asked questions and my offices have been inundated with queries from constituents and firearms owners from inside and outside my electorate.
Things are still in motion, the regulations that will go with the legislation have yet to be determined and it will take time to find money in the budget and to set up the infrastructure for the compensated confiscation of firearms.
In the meantime, my team has compiled a list of frequently asked questions and answers that you can access on my website; if you can’t find the answer, get in touch with one of my offices.
