Donato: the people of rural and regional NSW are fed up

That's the beauty of democracy in this country, the diverse background and skills that individual people bring to the role.

I've recently observed the questionable leadership which has been demonstrated and influenced by members of the NSW Government - people who purport to represent the interests of those who have elected them, that the recent country-to-city COVID vaccine redirection issue has brought to light.

What does it take to be a representative of the people? Among many things, it requires good judgement, honesty and integrity. It takes the ability to stand up and be counted. It takes courage.

This is not an exhaustive list, not by any means, but they are just some of the more important elements of the leadership-attribute composition.

All too often, I see local members who have been elected on the basis of the party they represent, in safely held seats, who are happy standing in front of a camera, holding a cheque, cutting a ribbon, handing out tax payers' money.

Don't get me wrong, that is part of the job, BUT then they let the ball drop when the going gets tough...they go missing, they're silent...we hear crickets!!!

We hear nothing from them; they hide from the media, bunker down in their offices, or are too scared to face the public.

If they happen to be lured out of their hole, they come out with condescending, typical toe-the-line scripted party dribble.

This is not leadership. This is weak, gutless representation, while we are in a crisis no less!

The people of rural and regional NSW are fed up!

The behaviour of politicians that fall into these categories, who hide, say nothing and then try and take credit when there is a backflip or reversal of an appalling short-sighted decision, is nothing short of astounding!

I cannot believe these so-called elected leaders actually think the voting public fail to see their behaviour for what it is!

Do they think country voters have short memories?

Given the forced council mergers debacle, the greyhound ban and losing former safe NSW Nationals-held seats of Orange, Barwon and Murray, you would think that they may have learned their lesson! Clearly they have not.

Just remember that the NSW Nationals were happy to sell out rural and regional NSW over the redistribution of Pfizer vaccine from the regions to HSC students in the city.

They were happy for frontline workers, vulnerable people in country communities and many, many others to go without their Pfizer vaccinations.

Many rural and frontline workers who had waited up to several months for their appointments, had their scheduled vaccinations cancelled as a result.

Now these thousands of regional people will need to reschedule another appointment.

It wasn't the NSW Liberal/National Government who did the right thing by rural and regional NSW, the Federal Government intervened by directing emergency supplies to correct the fault of the NSW Government which had acted contrary to the federal health mandate of equitably vaccinating priority groups across the State.

Let's hope and pray there's not a COVID outbreak in the bush during this time, which is a very real possibility with the increased detection of COVID-19 traces in the sewage of several regional cities and townships.

Remember this: The NSW Nationals agreed to the redistribution of Pfizer vaccine, having followed their Liberal masters, and did exactly what they were instructed to do, and did not stand-up for rural people!

Come March 2023, remember who stood solid and who sold you out!

When the going gets tough, that's when true leaders step-up - not spineless, weak and gutless representatives who bend with the breeze.

It's easy to smile and wave at popular announcements, but it's much harder to actually stand-up and fight for the protection of their communities.