There’s a reason Kate Washington is widely regarded as one of the strongest performers in the government led by Chris Minns.

She is usually across her brief, articulate and capable of explaining complex issues clearly.

Which is why it was surprising to see her struggle to answer some basic questions during her visit to Ballina today.

The minister had flown north to officially open the new Department of Communities and Justice offices on River Street.

The event itself was polished and well organised, with a smoking ceremony, speeches and morning tea.

But the moment we began asking questions about staffing numbers in Ballina, the conversation quickly unravelled.

The obvious issue was the former DCJ office in Tamar Street.

For years it housed a large number of government staff in one of Ballina’s most prominent office buildings.

The department vacated that building late last year.

The new premises opened today are far smaller.

That naturally raises questions.

Has the workforce been reduced?

Has it moved elsewhere?

Or has the department simply shifted staff into a smaller footprint because more people are working remotely?

These are not unreasonable questions.

They go to the heart of whether frontline social services in Ballina are expanding or shrinking at a time when the region is under enormous pressure.

The Northern Rivers continues to deal with the cost-of-living crisis, rising homelessness and the lingering trauma from the 2022 floods.

When the minister was asked those questions, however, the answers never came.

Instead, she repeated a prepared message about supporting child protection workers and investing in services.

In political terms, it was clear the event had been carefully staged to produce a positive announcement and a short clip for the evening television news.

But journalism doesn’t work that way.

Our job is not to repeat the talking points prepared for the cameras.

Plaque unveiling for the new River St offices, formerly occupied by the Northern Star

Our job is to ask questions on behalf of the community.

The simple truth is that a much better answer was available.

The minister could have said she did not have the exact staffing numbers at hand.

She could have said she would check the details with the department and come back to the media afterwards.

That would have been perfectly reasonable.

Instead, the questions were deflected.

When the situation became uncomfortable, the minister’s media adviser intervened and Ballina News Daily was asked to leave the press conference.

That was unnecessary.

When ministers visit regional communities, they should expect the same scrutiny they face from journalists in Sydney.

In fact, given such visits are rare, you could argue the scrutiny should be greater.

Regional communities often feel decisions affecting them are made a long way away, in offices at Macquarie Street.

Turning up in a regional centre without being across the basic details of a major local government presence sends the wrong signal.

It is hard to imagine a Sydney press conference ending with a journalist being removed for asking basic questions about staffing numbers.

The irony is that the minister’s own media release revealed the new centre will house just 20 staff.

If that represents a reduction from the workforce previously based in Tamar Street, then the community deserves to understand why.

And if it doesn’t, the government should be happy to explain that too.

Either way, transparency is the answer.