Ms Cooke reacted to the Liberal party's Sydney-centric sports stadium focus by reaffirming her by-election promise to fight hard for sporting infrastructure in towns and villages across the Cootamundra electorate.

“I acknowledge there has been a discussion about spending on stadiums in Sydney which has created strong feelings in regional NSW,” she said. “I am continuing to advocate strongly for increased spending on sport in the regions which, after all, is where a lot of sporting success stories have begun.”

Opposition Leader Luke Foley indicated he would not support the stadiums being rebuilt, saying the money should be spent on “schools and hospitals”.

“When thousands of children in the regions are being taught in demountables and thousands of people are waiting months for elective surgery it is a crime that this out-of-touch government has committed such a huge amount of money on a couple of Sydney stadiums,” Mr Foley said.

However, the Cootamundra MP has taken an ultra-local approach to the government’s increasing political problem.

Ms Cooke said a call to sporting organisations to tell her what was needed had received an overwhelming response.

“We now have a definitive list which we can work towards achieving in the months and years to come,” she said. “I want to make sure that every single sport gets a chance to have its say so that I can push as hard as I can for additional funding.”

Ms Cooke said the Sydney stadiums would be world-class facilities which will drive tourism spending as well as making trips to Sydney for residents in the Cootamundra electorate much more enjoyable.