It would be remiss of me not to start one of my first columns back with the Parkes Champion Post after the election with a BIG thank you to the people who have supported me. It's because of you that we can continue to work together to ensure our regional electorate is not forgotten!

Protection for farmers

In March last year my party, the Shooters Fishers and Farmers, introduced a bill to NSW Parliament titled the Animal Protection and Crimes Legislation Amendment (Reporting Animal Cruelty and Protection of Animal Enterprises) Bill 2018.

This important bill, which would have protected farmers from vegan activist incursions, was sadly not supported by the National Liberal Government.

In not supporting this legislation, the National Liberal Government have aided and abetted the ongoing and growing animal rights activists' criminal incursion of farmers' privately owned property. Farmers have enough to deal with given the on-going drought and associated financial distress.

Currently, the maximum penalty which can be imposed upon the activists who trespass onto farmer's private property is a maximum of 5 penalty units, equating to just $550, which is ludicrous.

Our bill would have amended the Crimes Act 1900 to criminalise activist trespassing, ensuring lawful farming is protected from intentional acts of interference including threats, vandalism, damage to property, trespass, harassment and intimidation against farmers and those working in the farming sector.

The penalty should include a maximum of imprisonment, not a $550 slap-on-the-wrist fine, which we've witnessed to be no deterrent at all.

The National Liberal Government certainly has a lot to answer for in their failure to respond to an issue my colleague The Hon. Robert Borsak MLC first raised in a notice of motion he delivered to the Legislative Council on 14th September 2017, and it is interesting to see the Government's faux "alarmed" response to the recent actions of activists in Melbourne, despite their opportunity to avoid this outcome.

What a week!

It was great to catch-up with Gill Kinsela and her team at Meals on Wheels in Parkes. Following storm damage to their Clarinda Street headquarters last year, they have relocated to 2/39 Currajong Street and amazingly, continue to serve over 100 clients with the support of 231 volunteers. Gill and her team have been nominated for a regional business award; a nomination that is well-deserved and I wish them all the best.

While in Parkes I was pleased to check the progress of the new Inland Rail Hub, which I'm thrilled to say is advancing swiftly. I'm looking forward to the regional growth and economic benefits this project will provide to the local community.

Also last week Superintendent Chris Taylor presented me with the National Police Service Medal and the 20 year clasp to my NSW Police Medal for diligent and ethical service.

I was extremely appreciative of both the award, and of Superintendent Taylor's patience, as I had been putting back the presentation date due to my commitments as State Member for over a year!

I'm proud to have served the community of NSW as a police officer for more than two decades prior to being elected, and I will continue to serve community as an elected Member of Parliament.

ANZAC Day

As you know, ANZAC day is coming up on the 25th of April. It's a day that we Aussie's take very seriously, remembering the gallant men and women who fought for us, many of whom lost their lives, in service to our country.

Lest We Forget.