'IT'S TIME TO ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES'
On Saturday 23rd March, voters in NSW went to the polls to have their say. I would like to thank my amazing team and all those who volunteered their valuable time and knowledge not only during this election but for the past four years.
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Heartfelt thanks also to all the helpers at the polling booths and very importantly, all those who entrusted their vote with me.
It is an extraordinary honour and privilege to represent the constituents of Murray. I would also like to congratulate all the other candidates on their campaigns.
The campaign is over and now it's time to roll up our sleeves and get to work. I will be sworn in in early May and in the next few weeks we have to employ electoral staff and set up our offices. I ask for everyone's patience while we set everything up.
The Murray electorate is the second largest electorate in NSW and we can be negatively impacted by the tyranny of distance and the lack of population numbers.
That's not acceptable and I intend to maximise engagement so that your voices are heard. In order to address this issue, I'm planning to establish local community hubs.
The government electorate offices will remain in Griffith and Deniliquin at the same locations where there will be full time staff. I'm also exploring the possibility of office space in other centres where meetings can be held in private.
We live and work in a remarkable part of the natural world in regional Australia. We conduct world's best practice irrigated agriculture; including value add production, and we are willing to embrace innovation, expertise and smart engineering.
There are so many opportunities for a bright and prosperous future in the Murray electorate.
During my election campaign I highlighted many of the issues which are of concern to the electorate. For this electorate to realise its enormous potential and maximize its contribution to the state and the nation we need to keep focused on repairing the inadequacies in government policies for rural and regional areas.
I intend to work with all of you to improve infrastructure spending and essential frontline services for the people of the Murray electorate
Thank you again for your generous support.
Helen Dalton, Member for Murray
DEREGULATION HAS BEEN MIA'S DOWNFALL
How many years ago did we go out to Vick and Vale dry area farm in May for bonfire night and the visitors would come from Melbourne to pitch a tent or with their caravan and have a wonderful time.
Everyone would bring a plate, the soups, chicken, pea and ham all kinds of dishes.
One year the discussion was around who was going to win the seat of Murrumbidgee.
Adrian Cruickshank was standing for the first time for the National Party.
For 47 years Labor has held the seat of Murrumbidgee and Adrian had no chance of winning the seat.
In 1983 along comes Bob Hawke at the Yoogali Club and said that Labor would not put a wine tax on wine, but he did.
Why would you vote for Labor when they gave the wine industry a tax on grape spirit used in fortifying wine, ports, sherries, etc.
In 1984 for the first time Adrian Cruickshank won for the National Party the seat of Murrumbidgee and in September 1989 Adrian decided to advise the Minister for Natural Resources Ian Causley, that land and irrigation water in the MIA and other irrigation districts should be deregulated.
Adrian ignored the views of 500 grape growers and horticulturalists, who were not pleased with the announcement "local people both irrigators and business called overwhelmingly for government not to deregulate the water."
I have always said that deregulation of our land and water is the downfall of the MIA and how many farms have sold with their water and land separated?
