Kaitlin McInerney is beginning her campaign to win the State Election with the launch this Sunday of a series of Kiama Conversations about issues of importance.

Ms Mclnerney says the key purpose of these conversations are to make sure concerns are flowing through to the Parliament by offering a forum for locals to have their say.

“One of the key concerns of our residents and voters at the moment is that we don’t have a voice in Parliament because whilst we have a local member employed as our representative, he is not able to be in Parliament to speak to the big issues,” Ms Mclnerney says.

“The purpose is to make sure that the big issues in Kiama are being presented to people who can speak to our needs and the challenges we are facing. As a community we need to get a real understanding of what the problems are, so that when it comes to strategy and solutions our region is not being left out of that conversation.”

The first event - Housing and affordability: what can state governments do? – will see Ms McInerney and Rose Jackson MLC, the Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness and Water, in conversation with Laurie Patton, former Head of News and Current Affairs at the Seven Network.

“We are hearing a lot from constituents in the area about the big issues, and I think housing and affordability is at the forefront of everybody's mind,” Ms Mclnerney says.

The Conversations will be varied but she says people can expect to see education, the health system, climate change and mental health taking the focus of future events, which will feature experts, writers and authors, as well as politicians.

The forums are also a fundraiser for the Kiama branch of the Labor Party.

Sunday 21 August, Kiama Leagues Club, 2-4pm. Tickets and details available here.