Mr O'Farrell has declared a state of emergency for flood ravaged wagga 
Mr O'Farrell visited the south-western NSW town today.
He announced on his return to Sydney that following a recommendation from the Natural Disaster Council he had declared a state emergency in what is the state's largest inland city.
About 9000 people have been evacuated from Wagga Wagga with fears the flood levee, the city's last line of defence, will be breached by the Murrumbidgee River later today/
The town's CBD will suffer major flooding if this happens and hundreds of homes are in danger of being inundated.
"Since my return, following discussions with the minister for police and emergency services, the government's determined to declare a state of emergency for Wagga Wagga to ensure that the state emergency service and the other emergency service organisations involved have the maximum set of tools available for them to protect life and property," Mr O'Farrell told parliament.
"That decision is based on the continuing concern that flood waters are rising and could spill over the levee or cause the levee to breach later this evening.
"My advice .. is if the levee is breached it may not possible for people to return to town for approximately three days."
The emergency declaration would be rescinded tomorrow morning if the levee was not breached, Mr Thousands of students and activists marched on the state Capitol;Arrested 70
A coalition of student groups and labor unions supported the demonstration, billed by some as an 'occupy the Capitol' action. The protest reflected discontent over steady hikes in college costs amid budget cuts.
Thousands of students and activists marched on the state Capitol on Monday to protest cuts in higher education, and authorities arrested 68 of them who refused to leave the building after it closed in the evening.
Four had been arrested earlier in the day, one on suspicion of possessing a switchblade.
The demonstration, billed by some as an "occupy the Capitol" act and supported by a freewheeling coalition of student groups and labor unions, was the latest sign of simmering discontent over steady hikes in the cost of attending state universities and community colleges.
Tuition has tripled at the universities over the last decade. "We're getting pushed against a wall," said Carson Watts, 23, a sociology major at UC Santa Cruz.
Gov. Jerry Brown, who signed a budget last year that slashed funding for the University of California and Cal State systems by 23%, did not attend the rally. But he said through a spokeswoman: "The students today are reflecting the frustrations of millions of Californians who have seen their public schools and universities eroded year after year. That's why it's imperative that we get more tax revenue this November"— a reference to his proposed ballot initiative to raise taxes.
Democratic political leaders largely embraced the demonstrators, most of whom stayed outside. Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles), Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) and Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom addressed the rally on the west steps.
"We've cut billions of dollars, and I've hated every minute of it," Steinberg said.
The California Highway Patrol, in charge of security, declined to estimate the number of protesters.
About 200 made it inside the building and lingered beneath its 19th-century rotunda before Highway Patrol officers sealed off the area. Dozens more milled in the hallways or dropped into legislative offices to plead for more funding.
Sympathetic Democratic lawmakers urged authorities to be judicious in making arrests. The activists spent much of the afternoon debating what their demands should be. They shouted out several, including a tax on millionaires that some education activists hope to place on the November ballot.
Prince Harry landed in Jamaica tour of the Caribbean
Britain's Prince Harry landed in Jamaica on the final leg of his tour of the Caribbean and Central America to mark his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee.
Members of the Jamaican Defence Force greeted the 27-year-old Harry with a 21-gun salute as his jet touched down at Norman Manley International Airport outside Kingston.
Making his first solo tour, the third in line to the British throne has also visited Belize and the Bahamas during the trip. He will then head to Brazil on March 9 on behalf of the British government.
"The Prince is hugely looking forward to representing the Queen and he will bring his own brand of enthusiasm and energy to every event," Harry's private secretary Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton said last week.
Harry's official visit will begin on Tuesday with a tour of the University of the West Indies -- where he could participate in a fun run with Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt -- and two hospitals.
He will also meet Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, who wants the Caribbean nation to drop the queen as head of state.
The prince's tour is one of several being made by British royals in 2012 as part of celebrations marking 60 years of Elizabeth II's reign.
Harry's brother Prince William and his wife Catherine will travel to the Asia-Pacific region, while heir to the throne Prince Charles and his wife Camilla will visit countries including Australia and Canada.
Harry, who qualified as an army Apache attack helicopter pilot last month, is keen to return to combat in Afghanistan after he was hastily withdrawn from his first tour of duty in 2008 when a media blackout was broken.
Mr O'Farrell visited the south-western NSW town today.
He announced on his return to Sydney that following a recommendation from the Natural Disaster Council he had declared a state emergency in what is the state's largest inland city.
About 9000 people have been evacuated from Wagga Wagga with fears the flood levee, the city's last line of defence, will be breached by the Murrumbidgee River later today/
The town's CBD will suffer major flooding if this happens and hundreds of homes are in danger of being inundated.
"Since my return, following discussions with the minister for police and emergency services, the government's determined to declare a state of emergency for Wagga Wagga to ensure that the state emergency service and the other emergency service organisations involved have the maximum set of tools available for them to protect life and property," Mr O'Farrell told parliament.
"That decision is based on the continuing concern that flood waters are rising and could spill over the levee or cause the levee to breach later this evening.
"My advice .. is if the levee is breached it may not possible for people to return to town for approximately three days."
The emergency declaration would be rescinded tomorrow morning if the levee was not breached, Mr Thousands of students and activists marched on the state Capitol;Arrested 70
A coalition of student groups and labor unions supported the demonstration, billed by some as an 'occupy the Capitol' action. The protest reflected discontent over steady hikes in college costs amid budget cuts.
Thousands of students and activists marched on the state Capitol on Monday to protest cuts in higher education, and authorities arrested 68 of them who refused to leave the building after it closed in the evening.
Four had been arrested earlier in the day, one on suspicion of possessing a switchblade.
The demonstration, billed by some as an "occupy the Capitol" act and supported by a freewheeling coalition of student groups and labor unions, was the latest sign of simmering discontent over steady hikes in the cost of attending state universities and community colleges.
Tuition has tripled at the universities over the last decade. "We're getting pushed against a wall," said Carson Watts, 23, a sociology major at UC Santa Cruz.
Gov. Jerry Brown, who signed a budget last year that slashed funding for the University of California and Cal State systems by 23%, did not attend the rally. But he said through a spokeswoman: "The students today are reflecting the frustrations of millions of Californians who have seen their public schools and universities eroded year after year. That's why it's imperative that we get more tax revenue this November"— a reference to his proposed ballot initiative to raise taxes.
Democratic political leaders largely embraced the demonstrators, most of whom stayed outside. Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles), Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) and Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom addressed the rally on the west steps.
"We've cut billions of dollars, and I've hated every minute of it," Steinberg said.
The California Highway Patrol, in charge of security, declined to estimate the number of protesters.
About 200 made it inside the building and lingered beneath its 19th-century rotunda before Highway Patrol officers sealed off the area. Dozens more milled in the hallways or dropped into legislative offices to plead for more funding.
Sympathetic Democratic lawmakers urged authorities to be judicious in making arrests. The activists spent much of the afternoon debating what their demands should be. They shouted out several, including a tax on millionaires that some education activists hope to place on the November ballot.
Prince Harry landed in Jamaica tour of the Caribbean
Britain's Prince Harry landed in Jamaica on the final leg of his tour of the Caribbean and Central America to mark his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee.
Members of the Jamaican Defence Force greeted the 27-year-old Harry with a 21-gun salute as his jet touched down at Norman Manley International Airport outside Kingston.
Making his first solo tour, the third in line to the British throne has also visited Belize and the Bahamas during the trip. He will then head to Brazil on March 9 on behalf of the British government.
"The Prince is hugely looking forward to representing the Queen and he will bring his own brand of enthusiasm and energy to every event," Harry's private secretary Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton said last week.
Harry's official visit will begin on Tuesday with a tour of the University of the West Indies -- where he could participate in a fun run with Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt -- and two hospitals.
He will also meet Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, who wants the Caribbean nation to drop the queen as head of state.
The prince's tour is one of several being made by British royals in 2012 as part of celebrations marking 60 years of Elizabeth II's reign.
Harry's brother Prince William and his wife Catherine will travel to the Asia-Pacific region, while heir to the throne Prince Charles and his wife Camilla will visit countries including Australia and Canada.
Harry, who qualified as an army Apache attack helicopter pilot last month, is keen to return to combat in Afghanistan after he was hastily withdrawn from his first tour of duty in 2008 when a media blackout was broken.
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