Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke has addressed concerns over a looming change in electoral boundaries after spending time in Tumut on Australia Day.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
While Ms Cooke did pay visits to West Wyalong and Gundagai for their official ceremonies, the Junee community missed her presence.
Attending an event in Tumut to represent the Government as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Premier who is the Disaster Recovery Minister, Minister for Regional NSW and the Minister for Forestry, Ms Cooke said it was also a show of support to her surrounding district.
"As we saw during the height of the Dunns Road fire, an electorate boundary is not respected by a natural disaster, with fire crews and volunteers from around my electorate heading up the mountains to help our neighbours to the east," she said.
"I also spent four weeks in fire affected areas, particularly around Tumut, during the height of the fires."
Australia Day was less about where it was spent and more about what the celebration represented, according to Ms Cooke.
"Marking Australia Day in Tumut allowed me to celebrate the incredibly strong ties between communities in my electorate and those surrounding it," she said.
But the Cootamundra MP did reminisce on her Australia Days previously spent in Junee.
"I spent my first two Australia Days as the Member for Cootamundra in Junee and the Jailbreak Fun Run is one of the highlights of my year," she said.
"Missing the 2020 one was a disappointment, and means I have had to run off my Australia Day lamingtons on my own, which is much less fun."
With queries over a potential boundary change for electorates in the Riverina region, Ms Cooke said she could not confirm if or when it could occur, or what it would mean for her electorate.
"While I expect a redistribution ahead of the next election, boundary changes are decided through an independent process," she said.
"With 164 towns, villages and localities in the Cootamundra electorate I am always working hard to make sure I spend time in every community."
Ms Cooke helped celebrate the grand opening of the Carberry Park adventure playground, Services Club multipurpose shed, and an access Ramp at the Gundgai Pool on Australia Day, as well as joining the West Wyalong community in congratulating Bland Shire Council General Manager, Ray Smith, who received special honours for Outstanding Public Service to Local Government in New South Wales.