At the outset, I would like to take this opportunity to thank our community for their support at the most recent State Election. It is an enormous honour and privilege to serve our community in Parliament and I will continue to work hard every day to ensure our community is never forgotten and that we secure outcomes that matter most.

I write this column as Parliament resumes for its second week and I have already given notice of a bill to address local residents concerns around agritourism, asked questions in Question Time of the Premier on State-based disability supports and homelessness, placed a range of questions on notice to Ministers on everything from the transfer of Jamberoo Mountain Road to the State Road network, environmental concerns around the Dunmore Hard Rock quarry, support for local dairy farmers due to the Country Valley Pty Ltd going into administration, safety improvements on the Kiama Bends and promised upgrades to local schools – just to name a few!

To form a majority government in NSW, a party or coalition parties require 47 seats in the Legislative Assembly. As the current government only has 45 seats, the government require the support of the cross-bench to pass its agenda. As the first independent MP for Kiama, I have been addressing each issue before the Parliament on its merits and putting the views of our community at the heart of each decision I make on your behalf.

I have supported Government Legislation to protect Sydney Water front future privatisation by placing Sydney Water in the NSW Constitution. I have also offered my support to the NSW Government to increase wages for our frontline workers like nurses, ambulance officers, and fire fighters.

However, I am concerned with government plans to abolish the Active Kids Rebate which provides $100 to each school-aged child to participate in out-of-school sport. I think we can all agree that the more time kids spend being active rather than in front of device, the better off the next generation will be. I have established a petition calling for the government to retain this initiative to support families with the costs of living and the petition can be signed on-line on my website: Petition to continue the Active Kids Rebate Program - Gareth Ward MP for Kiama

I have also responded to local parent concerns around seat belts on school buses. I think every child travelling to school on a bus should have a seat and a seat belt and I have commenced a petition calling on the NSW Government to fund improvements to our bus network to ensure student safety. You can sign this petition on my website: PETITION TO FAST TRACK SEATBELTS ON SCHOOL BUSES IN KIAMA - Gareth Ward MP

I also moved to establish an inquiry into training for frontline emergency services who engage with people living with cognitive impairment or cognitive decline following the tragic events involving Claire Nowland. Sadly, the Government didn’t support this proposal.

Should you wish to visit Parliament, I would be more than happy to host any community groups that would like to attend Question Time and tour the building. Feel free to contact my office to make arrangements.