The Goulburn Regional Art Award winners will be announced tomorrow night at the Regional Art Gallery starting at 6 o'clock.

Organisers have received a large number of entries this year with half of those pre- selected as finalists to be judged by last year's Dobell Prize winner Anne Judell.

Director Jane Cush says the first placed prize winner will receive a cheque for $3000.

The first hearing of a parliamentary enquiry into cuts at Goulburn and Berrima Jails will take place this Friday, examining the impacts on regional towns within the state.

Shadow Minister for Regional and Rural Affairs, Mick Veitch called for the enquiry with submissions closing on November 7.

The hearing will investigate what consultation was carried out and the associated costs of downsizing and closing correctional facilities.

Chair of the committee the Upper House of NSW Paul Green says many of the jails have enabled small communities keep their heads above water.

The State Opposition are labelling the lack of absentee polling stations at Local Government elections as ludicrous.

Just months ago people from regional and rural areas were left waiting in a queue for more than two kilometres at Town Hall in Sydney.

In the meantime 600,000 people failed to show at the polls in NSW with 12 per cent of locals in Goulburn Mulwaree opting for an informal vote.

Shadow Minister for Local Government Sophie Cotsis insists more needs to be done to make voters take interest.