Hawkesbury Independent IND 156 May 2023 | Page 13

LIFE & STYLE

Preston wins second term

by Maryann Callaghan

Liberal incumbent Robyn Preston has won a second term as the Member for Hawkesbury , with a margin of 16.6 % at the March State Government elections .

Ms Preston will be officially sworn into the Legislative Assembly of the 58 th parliament of NSW at its first sitting on 9 May along with the rest of her colleagues .

At the time of going to press Ms Preston was unable to confirm or deny if she would be taking up a shadow ministry , but she told the Independent to watch this space later in the month .

Despite the seat continuously being held by the Liberal Party since 1950 , Ms Preston said she ’ s never seen the Hawkesbury as a “ safe seat ”.

“ It ’ s been a journey of four years … you have to work hard , and I ’ ve never taken it for granted . No seat is safe , it ’ s not a given [ for any politician ] you have to deliver for the community or they won ’ t vote for you ,” Ms Preston said citing the positive recent outcomes of the Pitt Town By-Pass , new Richmond Bridge , new Emergency Control Centre , school upgrades and recently delivering $ 400m to council for community projects which boost local jobs .

Since 1950 , Hawkesbury has been represented by former Speaker Kevin Rozzoli , Steven Pringle , Ray Williams and former Premier Dominic Perrottet , with Ms Preston then winning the seat in 2019 .

Retaining it for a second term has made Ms Preston feel “ very grateful and very humbled ”.

When asked her thoughts on the Labor landslide in other seats across the state , Ms Preston said it was definitely due to a combination of factors .

“ Chris Minns is a nice blocke , he was no risk and has great appeal ,” she said candidly .

“ We [ Liberal Party ] had a few senior ministers retire which unbalances seats as incumbency gives you a head start in the polls .

“ We should also have pre-selected our candidates much , much

“ You give everything you can ,” says Robyn Preston who has won a second term as State Member for Hawkesbury . Ms Preston ( far left ) is pictured with many of the volunteers on election day whom she called “ absolutely wonderful and there every step of the way ” for her .

earlier … so people can get to know them better … which is what we have done previously .”

Ms Preston , who was keen to speak to as many constituents across the 39 polling booths on election day , also prides herself on getting out in the community “ you can ’ t sit behind a desk or at the end of a phone , you have to get out ” and cited her ongoing work in the bushfire and repeated flood disasters endured by the region .

“ You have to be out and about , speak to people in the flesh , sometimes you can ’ t do anything immediately but you can [ be on the ground ] helping with the recovery effort … how fantastic are our volunteers ,” she said .

While her second term is in opposition , Ms Preston said it ’ s “ business as usual ” for her .

“ It ’ s grassroots advocacy , it brings to the forefront the skills you learn on how to best advocate for the people … I like to rattle the cage and like to establish good working relationships with people from all different parties and put forward my case ,” the former Hills Shire councillor of 10 years said .

Ms Preston said she is very disappointed the Minns government has not recognised raising the Warragamba Dam wall as a priority of state significance , which was strongly pushed by the former Perrottet government . “ The Minns government would rather look at ‘ other solutions ’ such as a series of levees everywhere and upgrade of evacuation routes … it brings a lot of uncertainty to the area for market gardeners , farmers and residents .”

As the local member , Ms Preston aims to ensure she can deliver on each of the budgeted items in the previous government and “ fight for the rights of people in the Hawkesbury ”.

“ It is harder in opposition however Susan [ Federal ALP MP for Macquarie ] work well together to do the best for

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THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au ISSUE 156 // MAY 2023 13