I asked myself, where is the commitment to provide the electorate with some of the essential and overdue projects that we need, such as a $100 million dollar football stadium and/or convention centre?

The State Government is, after all, flush with funds and expecting to receive billions from the sale of the Hydro Scheme. Surely then it is not unrealistic to expect that the Wagga electorate should be targeted. I won't be voting for our Liberal candidate unless the Liberal Party commits to providing more than just essential services.

It will not take much for the Electorate of Wagga to have a new Independent representative. One that is not tied to the whims of distant political masters who normally have little regard for people who reside in western NSW. In my 38 years of living in this city, staid governments have achieved little. Many essential needs that have either not been satisfied, or came about far too late. Alternatively, others only just met the needs of the electorate - such as the new hospital. About four decades elapsed before the NSW government was forced into action. While the main structure is complete, the grounds are still a building site. The multi-storey carpark has also now magically appeared on the political spectrum. 

In comparison, the NSW government happily spends billions on NSW (Newcastle, Wollongong and Sydney) - motorways, light rail, tunnels, bridges and a more modern rail system. I also watched in horror as Baird and now Gladys forced amalgamations of various shire councils. Country councils having huge boundaries yet rarely get appropriate funds from the NSW Govt and this inhibits any planned future growth and services that we need. To add further insult, limited cash compensation was insufficient to assist those amalgamated electorates to get the services that they need. It is our turn now to have a better future! Consider your vote and Vote 1 for the Independent member of your choice.

It is alarming to hear of more journalists being sentenced to long jail terms after being accused of treason and not reporting in a manner that suits one government or another. There have been leading, brave journalists murdered and of course respected newspapers in the USA are constantly attacked by the President. Just today, a New Zealand journalist has lost her accreditation in Nauru, apparently because she interviewed a refugee. It is to be hoped that the Australian government will express objection to such an attack on press freedom.

I realise that social media worldwide seems to report news but often such reports are very unreliable and can never be a substitute for quality, reliable and professional reporting, something that is under threat world wide.