WITH Prime Minister Anthony Albanese soon to call an election date, National Party candidate for Parkes, Jamie Chaffey, has been clocking the kilometres and knocking on doors as he seeks election to replace outgoing member Mark Coulton.
Mr Coulton has been Federal Member for Parkes since 2007. He decided early last year to step down from politics and retire to his Warialda farm, with wife Robyn.
“If I’m fortunate enough to be elected as the next member for Parkes, I know I will have big shoes to fill, there’s no doubt about that,” Mr Chaffey said.
“Mark, with the support of his wife Robyn, has been an outstanding member of parliament.”
The Parkes electorate, with more than 130,000 enrolled voters in 21 local government areas, covers 406,755 square kilometres.
Mr Chaffey has filled several logbooks in recent months, knocked on countless doors and handed out thousands of pamphlets as he ramps up the campaign.
Mr Chaffey was on Thursday in Coolah in central-western New South Wales meeting with locals and door-knocking and will be in Dunedoo today ahead of a visit to Dubbo on the weekend.
He was in Moree recently with Nationals leader David Littleproud to announce $1 million in funding for childcare and aged care in Moree and Mungindi if the Liberals and Nationals are returned to power.
National Party candidate for Parkes, Jamie Chaffey, has been clocking the kilometres and knocking on doors as he seeks election to replace outgoing member Mark Coulton.
After the announcement, Mr Littleproud and Mr Chaffey went to Dubbo to officially open Mr Chaffey’s campaign office at 88 Macquarie Street.
“Since being preselected as the Nationals candidate last year, I’ve driven more than 25000 kilometres and knocked on over 16000 doors to the issues that concern people the most,” Mr Chaffey said.
He said there’s a lot of anger about the impact of Labor’s policies on households and small businesses.
Mr Chaffey, a former mayor of Gunnedah, is a boilermaker by trade and was in small business in Gunnedah for nearly 30 years.
“Front of mind is the rising cost of living, which doesn’t discriminate when doing the weekly shop, filling up at the fuel station, when the power bill comes in and when the mortgage payment goes out,” Mr Chaffey said.
“Families need a hand. There are no two ways about that. We need greater cost-of-living support and improved access to childcare.
“I want young people to be able to buy a house, raise a family, have job security, get ahead, stay in the communities where they grew up, and encourage economic develop to attract new people to town.”
Mr Chaffey said it is increasingly becoming more difficult for small businesses to remain viable in the bush.
“Businesspeople I’ve spoken to tell me about their power bills, the cost of employing staff –
in a nutshell, the cost of doing business and staying in business,” Mr Chaffey said.
“That’s why I’m backing greater support for the small business sector – the engine room of Australia – and a sensible energy policy. Australia needs affordable and reliable energy.
“I can’t promise to solve all these issues, but what I can promise is, if I’m elected, I will put my heart and soul into standing up for the people of the Parkes electorate,” Mr Chaffey said.
Mark Coulton will retire from politics are nearly 17 years representing the people of Parkes.
“It has been an incredible honour, but the time has come for me to step aside,” Mr Coulton said.
“It has been a great privilege and I’m extremely proud of everything we’ve been able to achieve over that time.”
Mr Coulton said Mr Chaffey will be a fierce advocate for communities across the electorate.
“I have worked closely with Jamie over the years, both in his role as mayor and through his involvement with the Nationals, and I know he has a deep passion for bettering our region,” Mr Coulton said.
“Jamie has been a hardworking community leader; he understands the issues facing our communities and knows regional Australia is the backbone of our economy.
“He is not afraid to stand up for what he believes in, and I know he will work tirelessly to ensure the people of the Parkes electorate can continue to thrive into the future,” he said.
