THE new member-elect for Oxley, Melinda Pavey, “can’t wait” to get down to work for her new electorate.
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With nearly 70 per cent of the vote counted, Mrs Pavey has captured 60.7 per cent of the vote on a two-candidate preferred basis, ahead of Labor’s Fran Armitage on 39.3 per cent.
Mrs Pavey had been a member of the NSW Legislative Council, the Upper House, since 2002.
She is excited about the beginning of the new parliament and her move to the Legislative Assembly.
“I already have a lot of experience in Parliament and I have known Mike Baird and others since before they were in politics so I think I have the experience to do a good job straight away,” she said.
“Premier Baird has already announced the government will be sworn in in May and Parliament will sit soon after.
"It is very exciting and I can hardly wait to get to work for the voters of Oxley.
“Even though retiring member Andrew Stoner was very popular and he captured a huge proportion of the vote at the last election, that was the high water mark for the Nationals' vote.
“I don’t consider it a safe National seat and I will be doing everything I can to represent the best interests of the electorate.
“I feel very comfortable here.”
Mrs Pavey said her priorities would be jobs, the environment and social issues.
“In Kempsey in particular we have to make the most of the advantages that we have here with transport links and cheap houses and land,” she said.
“I am a huge supporter of the environment and I recognise the strong support environmental issues have in the electorate.
“I think you can support a sustainable timber industry and a strong agricultural sector and also look after the environment, but it has to be a balance.”
Mrs Pavey said she hoped this election would lead to a new tenor in state politics.
“I think the voters have looked at politicians from all sides recently and not been happy with what they have seen,” she said.
“I hope this can change and I think we saw that on the weekend with Labor leader Luke Foley’s concession speech and the Premier's speech - there was respect.
“I would finally just like to thank all my staff, volunteers and everyone who helped out during the campaign.
“You can rest assured I will not let you down.”
