I am proud of all the programs and changes I was able to deliver during my time as Minister for Regional Health, Regional Communications and Local Government.

It has been a privilege to work with rural health professionals across the sector to improve healthcare in regional, rural and remote Australia and keep people in the bush safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

I’m proud and pleased with the progress we’ve collectively made over the past two years in the areas of workforce distribution, changes to GP and allied health training and positive improvements to how bush doctors are remunerated.

The people of regional Australia are enormously fortunate to have some of the most dedicated and highly-skilled doctors, nurses and allied health professionals in the country to care and advocate for them.

The bespoke modern broadband projects we’re delivering through the Regional Connectivity Program will set many small towns and villages in good stead, enabling people in those communities to grow their business, access education and importantly connect with family and friends.

More than 1,220 areas across the country will or already have a new phone tower as a result of our Mobile Black Spot Program to keep them better connected.

The Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program is assisting councils in every corner of the country to deliver priority local road and infrastructure projects to support jobs and boost the resilience of local economies and to help communities bounce back from the pandemic.

Coalition Government investment in the LRCI program totals $2.5 billion. It’s enabled councils to partner with the Government to deliver vital roads and infrastructure.

It’s been a privilege to work alongside the Member for Riverina and former Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Michael McCormack, to deliver these important projects that are making a real difference in communities.

I’m eternally grateful to Michael for bestowing upon me the honour of being a Minister in his team to advocate for the needs of rural Australians right across the country.

Michael’s incredible work ethic, integrity and desire to always put regional and rural Australia first is exemplary.

Coming to work every day with the sole purpose of improving the lives of those seven million Australians who are proud to call regional Australia home has been easy.

I will continue to turn up each and every day for the wonderful people of the Parkes electorate. They are the people who have put me here for the past 14 years, and to them I am very grateful.