Mrs Pavey began her speech by thanking the people of Oxley for asking her to represent them in the Parliament.

“The people of Oxley have shown faith that, with my 12 years of experience, I have the knowledge, the experience and the will to continue the strong representation that Oxley has enjoyed for 16 years,” she said.

Mrs Pavey went on to say it was her job to see projects through, such as the Pacific Hwy and the Kempsey District Hospital, and acknowledged contributions from the local commercial and agricultural industries.

She also talked about rethinking what the electorate does with the land to optimise its use.

“I often contemplate what it would be like if there were large, long paddocks of high-value crops growing," she said.

Mrs Pavey said the crops could be used for food processors and manufacturers, and there could even be licensed hemp production for the fibre and textile market.

"I am talking more about rethinking what we do with the land to optimise its use and the value of its outputs as well as increase overall economic activity while supplying raw materials to attract secondary industry," she said. 

“Can we think differently about land tenure so that there can be leasing and share farming for the younger or entrepreneurial farmers who want to farm but who cannot afford the capital cost of land.”

Mrs Pavey asked if the Water Act could be reviewed and if ways could be found to promote tourism in the Oxley electorate because towns will be bypassed due to the new Pacific Highway. 

“However, even paradise is not perfect and, as a community, we have many challenges to face in Oxley,” Mrs Pavey said.

“I believe one of the biggest decisions that one can make in life is to have a child. It is a child's right to expect a home based on love, stability, security and unconditional support, but the sad reality is that more and more children in our communities are not provided with this strong, vital foundation. 

“Sadly, one of the biggest impacts on the Oxley electorate is the number of children living in less than ideal circumstances, which is having a profound impact on law and order in too many of our towns. 

“I am excited to be part of the Breaking the Cycle project, coordinated by the Department of Premier and Cabinet, that is operating in the Kempsey shire. This is a groundbreaking opportunity to address the systemic failure of social policy too focused on good intentions and not enough on outcomes. I am determined that this will not be a talkfest.”

After the speech, Mrs Pavey told The Macleay Argus that people from South West Rocks, Kempsey, Kinchela and Gladstone attended and heard her inaugural speech and it was a brilliant day.

“I wanted to clearly put in the minds of the ministers in relation to primary industry, police as well as Family and Community Services, that it’s a brilliant community and the opportunities are endless, but there are a few policies that we need to tweak to ensure those opportunities can be realised.”