2025 has been a year of significant wins for Murray, but I know I also have a lot of work to do next year.
When it comes to water, I managed to get my Water Register Bill passed into law this year.
The Bill is designed to publicly name anyone who buys an entitlement to water in NSW.
This means that for the first time, foreign buyers of our water will be identified.
A little known aspect of this Bill is that it also gives you and I the right to take any disputes we are having with irrigation infrastructure companies to the Energy and Water Ombudsman of NSW.
This isn’t over, next year, the fight against the Federal Government's water buybacks will continue.
I have been both saddened, and spurred on, by the heartbreaking stories you have shared with me about how the Murrumbidgee Local Health District has failed to provide us all the proper health care we deserve.
I am confident that next year, Murray will be able to break away from the MLHD to form our own Western Riverina Local Health District.
After convincing the government to provide $5 million to research the causes of Motor Neurone Disease, I’m now trying to get MND registered as a notifiable disease.
That would mean doctors will register cases with the NSW Health Department so we can identify MND hot spots and why that is.
2025 also saw the Gidget Foundation funded for a permanent position in Griffith, providing desperately needed more support for new mothers.
After years of lobbying, the Moama Police Station is also open, and Wade High and Griffith High are separate schools once again.
It looked like the state government was going to short change our schools when it came to facilities, so I convinced Premier Minns and Health Minister Ryan Park to invest an extra $5 million in funding for the new halls for both schools.
Origin Energy pledged a million dollars toward a new childcare centre in Deni and I urged the Premier and his Ministers to commit to the upgrade of Deni airport. That means the runway will now be long enough for air ambulances.
So, together, we have achieved a lot this year and next year I’m determined to achieve even more for Murray.
I hope you and your loved ones have a wonderful New Year.
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