Hawkesbury needs a flood-free river crossing . Will your party support an ‘ east-west ’ flood-free crossing / evacuation route ( similar to the elevated Hawkesbury Valley Way flood evac route ) so major towns ‘ west ’ like North Richmond / Grose Wold / Yarramundi , as well as Wilberforce / Pitt Town are not repeatedly cut-off ?

Whatever route is chosen by the NSW Government needs to be a flood resilient one . Building a bridge that offers no additional access when water levels rise is a waste of time and money . An Albanese Labor Government will ensure that the infrastructure we build can meet our needs not just now but into the future .

Macquarie is the most marginal seat in the State . What can your party deliver for the electorate that the other party can ’ t deliver ?

Labor ’ s plan for a better future will deliver more secure jobs for Australians and help tackle the rising cost of living . We ’ ll make sure they have the skills for those jobs , by delivering fee-free TAFE and more university places . We will strengthen Medicare , make childcare cheaper , and make more things in Australia .

NBN and telecommunications are still unreliable in the Hawkesbury with old , unstable infrastructure . Whole sections of towns still continue to “ go down ” regularly for weeks , particularly during inclement weather in greater Kurrajong , Bilpin and north up through the Putty Road . Can this really be fixed or is it a pipe dream that no amount of investment can rectify ?

Labor has a comprehensive plan to expand Fibre to the Premises ( FTTP ). Optical fibre technology can deliver speeds up to 14 times faster than copper , with fewer dropouts and improved reliability during floods or fires , and the plan will expand full-fibre NBN access to an additional 1.5 million premises across Australia , meaning nearly seven in every eight premises nationally on NBN copper will have access to FTTP under Labor .

Thousands of households within suburbs such as McGraths Hill , North Richmond , Mulgrave , Pitt Town , and Windsor Downs currently on Fibre to the Node ( FTTN ) will have access to full-fibre connectivity under Labor ’ s plan .

I also recently welcomed the government ’ s announcement for upgrades of mobile coverage in Oakville

– one of the sites I recommended to the Minister last year – but Labor will go further by investing $ 2 million to improve coverage in Bowen Mountain , Blaxlands Ridge , and Maraylya .

The Liberals have had nearly a decade to fix these problems , yet this tired old government chose to make an announcement on the eve of an election . This is more about its re-election than a genuine desire to improve Hawkesbury ’ s telecommunications .

Will you work with the government of the day or just oppose everything for the political sake of it ?

I have worked constructively with the government in the past over important issues such as disaster recovery , particularly with former Emergency Management Minister David Littleproud in the wake of the 2019 / 20 Black Summer bushfires , and the 2021 floods . Labor also supported every emergency support measure during the pandemic such as JobKeeper .

But I certainly do not shrink from holding the government to account on its decisions , and will always fight for what ’ s best for the people of our region regardless of who wins the election .

How will your party address funding for resources , equipment , mitigation and recruitment for emergency service agencies , given the electorate ’ s high bushfire and flood prone status ?

I lost my home to bushfire in 2013 , and I was on the ground every day throughout the 2019 / 20 Black Summer fires , as well as the 2021 and 2022 floods .

Labor will boost our region ’ s ability to prepare for and respond to disasters by providing $ 4.95 million to local emergency services . In the

Hawkesbury , $ 50,000 would be provided to every Rural Fire Service brigade for equipment or capital improvements , $ 300,000 to improve Hawkesbury Fire Control , and $ 1.1 million to Hawkesbury SES .

This funding will deliver the flexibility locals need to pursue what they know will protect volunteers and the community .

What ’ s happening with the sustained backlog of veteran ’ s affairs compensation / pension claims ?

Many Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury veterans have told me about the long waits they experience with the system , and they ’ re simply asking for trained staff at the Department who understand the issues .

Labor will increase staff at the DVA by 500 to address the backlog blowout of 60,000 cases that sees some vets waiting two years to have their claims resolved . Labor is committed to getting on top of this backlog and restoring respect .

An Albanese Labor Government would also invest in the wellbeing of local veterans and current serving personnel by establishing a $ 5 million regional veterans ’ hub , working with local veterans to decide where it goes and what it offers .