AT the beginning of this term, I had one hand tied behind my back. The government of the day did not need my vote. Far from it. Daniel Andrews had a crushing, record-breaking majority in the Lower House. It was a worst-case scenario for an independent MP.
But Mallee girls are nothing if not determined, and I demonstrated the skill and courage necessary to overcome this hurdle and achieve game-changing results.
In just four years, I negotiated and secured more than three times the health-care funding, 336 times the housing funding, almost six times the sports funding and millions more in tourism funding than my National Party predecessor was able to secure in 12.
In addition, I secured more than double the roads funding, and four times the education funding than the Nats did when they were last in government.
Today we face an important choice. A choice that will determine our fate for the next four years and intergenerationally: to keep doing what we are doing or go back to where we were.
The parliament I faced in 2018 will look very different in 2022. All polls are showing the pendulum is swinging back and the government will lose its crushing majority. This is our moment. Our chance to bargain – not beg – for regional rate reform, a new deal for freight, a redeveloped Mildura Base Public Hospital, an upgraded Mildura West Primary School, a passenger train and more.
The moment is ours. Let’s claim it.
