As you are most likely aware, recently Western Local Health District has confirmed that there is currently one confirmed Covid 19 patient in the Orange area. The patient is self-isolating and NSW Health have informed close contacts to also self-isolate.

Please remain calm but vigilant, and if you have any symptoms please get tested. Social distancing, staying home when sick and personal hygiene have been shown to make a huge difference when it comes to lower rates of transmission, so please take the recommendations seriously.

WorkCover and iCare

I've had several constituents contact me about iCare, which I believe needs a complete overhaul. I've contacted the government on this matter and hope they can prioritise making the necessary changes. Workers' compensation matters should not be this convoluted; we should be able to trust that these entities are transparent and looking after those who need them most.

Homelessness Week 2020

This week is Homelessness Week. Homelessness isn't front of mind for many of us living in regional areas because it isn't as noticeable as it is in larger centres where clusters of homeless sleep out on the street.

The fact is that homelessness in parts of my electorate are just as high as they are in the city. In June this year I joined with CEO Anne-Marie Mioche of CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes to highlight this issue as well as the lack of affordable housing needed to help solve the problem.

I have raised this issue with Minister for Water Property and Housing and Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services. I will await their response as to what the Government is doing in our electorate to address this issue.

Disability Funding

With the uncertainty of funding for disability advocacy, I am now seeking surety from the government of continued funding. It's vital that we keep this government accountable, to ensure that the most vulnerable members of the community aren't disadvantaged or overlooked.

Water Transparency

Recently I spoke in Parliament in support of the Water Management Amendment (Water Rights Transparency) Bill (No. 2) 2020, introduced by my Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party colleague, the member for Murray, for the second time. Despite fierce opposition from the Government earlier this year, this bill is a complete no-brainer. Our part of New South Wales has been hard-hit by drought and it has made me appreciate, more than ever, how much we need to value our most precious natural resource: water. The public needs to know how our water is being used and, most importantly, who owns it, and this is what the Water Rights Transparency Bill sets out to ensure.

We have a situation in Australia where ruthless, often foreign owned, corporates are making millions from the secret trading of water. They buy water when it's cheap, hold on to it and watch the price soar when there is a drought. Their only motivation is profit; not Australian agriculture. They make millions while farmers go broke.

Amazingly, the member for Murray has copped nothing but vicious personal abuse since she brought this important legislation to the Chamber. She was called a "disgrace" by the water Minister, a "disgusting human" by the Deputy Premier and "the mean girl from school" by a National member in the upper House.

I think many people, both within our electorate and beyond, are getting quite tired of the Liberal-National Party's bullying and petty politics. I will keep fighting to ensure this Water Transparency Bill (No.2) is passed, as it will benefit farmers and entire communities.