Well, it’s not like anybody needed a reminder that the pandemic is far from over, but a reminder certainly came to me last week when I tested positive for COVID-19.

I have spent the last week recovering and in isolation.

It followed hard on the heels of a hectic week on the road around Barwon, which included a slow leak in one tyre on the road between Cobar and Tilpa and a blowout in another on the same day as I headed to Canberra for a few days of meetings with members of both the new federal government and of the opposition.

This week I am back in NSW parliament, and, as usual, it will be a busy one, given the current volatile political climate and the rapidly approaching election.

Government in turmoil

Even though parliament hasn’t been sitting, it has been a turbulent couple of weeks for the Perrottet government.

The Premier recently returned from his overseas trade mission to face allegations of wrongdoing by former and current ministers.

Last week we saw the sacking of one minister and the resignation of another.

And now there are threats of more industrial action by rail workers. It hardly needs to be said that all of this disruption will seriously hamper the government in the lead-up to the March 2023 election.

Such instability might make for good headlines, but it is not an ideal way to run a state.

I would prefer to see a stable NSW government after so much recent disruption.

The sooner we can see facts on the table about the various allegations aimed at ministers, and the sooner the government can take whatever action is needed, the better.

There are too many real issues in NSW that need attention and now, during this period of instability, there is a danger of things not being done.

The current situation is distracting from the important business of improving the lives of people in the bush.

Canberra

Last week I was in Canberra, meeting with members and senators of the newly elected federal parliament, including the new ministers and shadow ministers, in their first sitting week.

It’s been great to meet some for the first time and continue the discussions going on over the last few years with some others.

We talked about some of the issues facing the electorate, such as health, education, aged care, the skills gap, worker shortages, regional councils under financial pressure and the shortage of housing.

I also raised some other issues I have been pursuing for some time, including a structured approach to drought, a doppler radar to cover the far west and improving telecommunications. There were some useful and productive meetings, which hopefully will get some good outcomes for the people in Barwon.

The federal government has quite a different role to those of each state and territory.

States and territories are often service delivery governments and feds are more often a funding government. Part of my job as a parliamentarian is to make sure both sides of the house of both parliaments know what is happening in Barwon, and help them find out what they can do to help.

Brendan Cullen

They breed them tough in the west of NSW as was recently proven by Brendan Cullen, a grazier from Kars Station near Menindee.

Over a week ago, Brendan successfully took on the huge challenge of swimming the English Channel. It was an amazing feat, one that he achieved by honing his abilities swimming in the Menindee Lakes.

Brendan, who has had his own battle with depression, has been campaigning to raise awareness of mental health issues.

With his swim, he raised more than $28,660 for Lifeline Broken Hill Country to Coast to support ongoing face-to-face counselling services.

Massive congratulations to Brendan and his mighty efforts, both in and out of the water. Training in the watercourses of the far west and completing the English Channel swim is testament to Brendan’s toughness and dedication. Well done.

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