A big thank you to the people of the Yass Valley who have elected me as their local member in the NSW Parliament. It is a tremendous honour to serve this community and I am grateful for the support I received from so many over the course of the campaign. Whether or not you voted for me, my job is to work for you and ensure this community receives its fair share of the tremendous opportunities now open to the state of New South Wales under the leadership of Mike Baird.

The Yass Valley has grown rapidly over the time my family and I have lived here and is now in desperate need of improved state services. I will ensure the $11.8 million investment in local health services is delivered and the redevelopment of Murrumbateman’s sporting fields.

Then there’s the issue of local schools- I am determined that the incoming Education Minister visits our region to see first-hand how badly we need a new primary school at Murrumbateman and an upgrade to Yass High School. You will hear more from me over the coming months about how you can become part of the campaign for these schools so that the Minister’s visit will be a success.

I was told by so many residents in Yass and Murrumbateman that upgrading the Barton Highway to make it safer and a better commute was critically important and I have made it a priority. The work will begin with additional overtaking lanes we promised but you need an overall plan that achieves duplication. Along with the federal Member for Hume, Angus Taylor, I will persist with the development of a funded plan. Again, the community needs to maintain its pressure on both governments to ensure this happens.

I am acutely conscious of my responsibility to serve individual constituents and I will be in touch shortly with details of my regular Yass visit schedule. I will also be regularly visiting the villages around Yass and will let you know as soon as the timetable’s confirmed.

I absolutely understand the concerns of workers affected by the proposed lease of Transgrid and will seek a meeting with both staff and management as soon as possible to ensure I am able to represent their concerns as forcefully as possible to the Government.

Thank you again for putting your trust in me; I am a fighter and I will not let you down.