1. Briefly tell us about yourself and your background.

I’ve been a resident of the Parkes electorate for more than 35 years; My wife Judy and I have raised four children in Gunnedah.

I’m a boilermaker by trade and joined the family engineering business 28 years ago.

The business has grown to now employing over 130 people, and late last year I handed the business down to my children.

I have served my community as Gunnedah Shire Mayor for eight years as well as being an active member of community groups, including Gunnedah Rotary, RFS and the Anglican church.

2. Why have you put yourself forward as a candidate, and if elected, what principles would govern your representation as Parkes’ federal MP?

My experience in serving as a mayor for eight years, working alongside Mark Coulton as my federal member, has given me the confidence to know that you can make a difference, if you are committed and you are determined to truly represent the needs and the dreams, and aspirations of people who choose to live in our communities.

I want to focus on growing our regional communities by bringing investment to town, upgrading important infrastructure, be a part of a team that gets inflation under control to bring cost of living relief, and that will stabilise power prices and keeps the lights on.

3. What are your three key issues in Parkes and what action/policy/plan do you have to make a difference?

Through my experience campaigning across the Parkes electorate, door knocking, meeting with small businesses and local government, over the last eight and a half months, I have learned that the most common issues are the three "C's" healthcare, childcare and aged care. Then once you leave the town boundaries it's all about better roads and telecommunications.

In regards to making a difference to improve access to childcare, I have already pledged $700,000 for Gwydir Day Care in Moree, $87,321.20 for Mungindi Childcare, $425,500 for Coonamble Preschool, $600,000 for Nurruby Children Services in Narrabri and $60,000 for the Bogan Shire Early Learning Centre, $1,003,970 for Bourke and District Childcare Services, which is a total of over $2.8 million pledged for childcare and early learning in the Parkes electorate.

The Coalition has also announced that if elected, a Dutton Littleproud Government will establish a new $100 million Raising the Regions Program to deliver flexible and innovative approaches to early childhood education and care in childcare deserts; regional and rural areas where there is limited or no supply.

4. Explain how you would help create more opportunities for youth in Parkes – specifically around employment and education – to help diminish the need for people to leave the area?

I hope to lean on my experience in local government, knowing that the communities aspirations are reflected in the council's planning for the future, that has been endorsed by the community, means that the highest priorities of council and the community will become my highest priority with respect to infrastructure and development of the shire.

The Nationals in a Coalition Government will rollout a range of cost-of-living support measures and support for young homeowners that will make a real difference in the lives of all people living in the Parkes electorate.

5. Specifically for the towns of Parkes and Forbes, what change would you like to see or actions implemented?

For Forbes, if I'm elected, and The Nationals help form government at the forthcoming election, $345,000 will be provided to construct a playground which will benefit young children and the general community in the CBD, at Pitt Stop corner.

I visited Parkes before Easter and announced that if I'm elected, and The Nationals help form government at the forthcoming election, $465,000 will be provided for effective signage to encourage travellers to visit Parkes and create an attractive entry into town from the newly completed $287.2 million Newell Highway Bypass.

More work needs to be done to improve our local road networks and see work continue on the Newell Highway.

Housing is also an issue which is why I'm pleased that the Coalition have announced they will allow first home buyers who purchase a new property to live in, to claim a tax deduction for the interest payments on the first $650,000 of their mortgage for the first five years of their mortgage. The First Home Buyer Mortgage Deductibility Scheme will support first home buyers in the early years of their mortgage, making it easier to enter the housing market, and will also boost the number of new homes built across the country.

Health care is of major concern in both communities, and more work needs to be done to attract and retain health care professionals.

A solution is to invest in training youth from and in regional communities because statistics show they are more likely to stay and service regional/rural communities like Parkes and Forbes.

Safety of our communities is of most importance to me, domestic violence, sexual assaults, and youth crime need to be addressed.

I would work closely with local and state governments to identify solutions and act as quickly as possible.

6. An Energy from Waste plant has been proposed to be built in Parkes NSW - while we understand this is a state matter, it is also the biggest issue in our region right now. Where do you stand on the Energy from Waste debate?

I've only recently become aware of this project through the media, as you mentioned the approval process is a matter for local and state governments, however if I'm elected on the 3 May, one of my first actions would be to seek a meeting with council and the proponent to receive a briefing to be more across the proposal.

I will certainly take the concerns of the community on board and be an advocate where necessary.

7. In your final pitch to the Parkes electorate, why should they vote for you?

A change of government at the last election in 2022 saw more than 50 projects across regional Australia, where funding was committed by the coalition Government scrapped, leaving many communities and small businesses on their knees.

In the Parkes electorate we lost more than $40 million worth of projects as well as the handbrake being pulled on the Inland Rail, a nation-building project that once complete will bring industry and jobs, and importantly people back into the Parkes electorate.

I am so excited that the Nationals in a Coalition Government are committing to establishing a Regional Australia Future Fund, a $20 billion legislated fund that will deliver $1 billion in perpetuity per year to support regional communities no matter who’s in government.

This plan is not just for today, next week, in three months or even just for this next term, this is a plan that will ensure our children, and our grandchildren will have the services they need to continue to live, work and raise their families in regional Australia.