A marathon election season in Griffith following a local byelection in February and state election in March will finally end, after what feels like a lifetime.

While we can jest about the amount of hot air expelled as politicians of all stripes and parties jockey for position - there's serious decisions to be made.

This election matters because it will signify whether voters accept a policy platform bereft of ideas and focusing solely on personality, compared to another platform which has outlined actual policy to move the nation forward.

In our electorate, the choice is less clear cut but for the first time in many years, there is a genuine choice for voters.

The decision Griffith and MIA voters make could also have ramifications at a national level - which would be the first time in a long time that voters can see how their decision has shaped Australia.

A lot of the talk from candidates has focused on water, however the importance of that subject shouldn't be dismissed and the importance of subjects like health, transport, communications and basic services shouldn't be underestimated.

Next year's water allocations are going to be key if the MIA is to grow, but so is the provision of health services which we see marching towards Wagga and Albury.

In Friday's edition of The Area News, you can read the final pitches from candidates and on our website we have collated the stories covering issues important to our community.

No matter the decision voters make, or have already made during early voting, it will be up to the Member for Farrer to genuinely take our concerns to the floor of the parliament.

Part of the reason for the rise of populist parties which lack knowledge, experience and vision is because the people who have been elected as our representatives have taken us for granted.

This isn't something which is exclusive to the Farrer electorate, of course, but it's something our representative should be addressing in future.

Importantly, it's not just the responsibility of the Member for Farrer, our community benefits when the community sets aside egos and works together for the collective benefit of the district.

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