It is also easy to make comments about learning from mistakes and the need to “demonstrate to the community that we are here for them”. As we have seen, it is more difficult for words to be put into actions. 

This ‘bush blood bath’ occurred because people in the bush are tired of not having our voices heard. I do not think Ms Berejiklian understands that we are fed up with poor government policy, in particular policy which is designed to appease city voters, yet at the expense of our communities.

In the Murray byelection last year Ms Berejiklian travelled to various parts of the electorate, as did Nationals leader John Barilaro, and we were promised the world. But nothing has been delivered.

The promised reinvigoration of the timber industry was hollow, because neither of the leaders have the courage to stand up to their city colleagues and demand that common-sense prevail.

The Basin Plan is still a mess, again because environmental votes are prioritised over common-sense decisions that encourage production and growth in regional communities.

How crazy has it become when we have a zero water allocation in the NSW Murray when the major storage, Dartmouth, is nearly full and Hume is at more than 50 per cent. At the same time, South Australian irrigators have 100 per cent, the Lower Lakes are at minor flood level and the barrage gates are open so water can pour out to sea.

This occurs because the Coalition at state and federal level is not prepared to stand up to South Australia, again because there are precious votes which must be protected at all costs. 

Nor is either party in the Coalition prepared to acknowledge and fix issues in the Northern Basin, because it is too politically difficult.

As a consequence in recent byelections the Liberals have lost Wagga and The Nationals, who don’t seem to get the message despite steadily losing their heartland, lost Orange and only just maintained Murray and Cootamundra (and may not be so lucky next March).

They have six months to “demonstrate to the community that we are here for them”. Use it wisely or, as Wagga residents have shown, you will suffer the consequences.

We would like to say a big thank you to Riverina residents for their incredible support of Foodbank this winter through the Woolworths winter fundraising appeal.

With demand for food relief outstripping supply, you have significantly helped warm-up winter for some of the most vulnerable people in the community.

Riverina residents helped us reach our national goal of providing 762,948 meals to Australian families in need.

With each $2 token enabling Foodbank to provide four warming meals, NSW contributed 177,884 meals. The funds raised have helped struggling families make ends meet.

Thank you once again for your generosity at a time of year when families most desperately need assistance. Our aim of supporting the growing need for hunger relief and helping feed millions of Australians in need would not have been possible without your support.