The Wagga Branch of the NSW Liberal Party met on Tuesday night at Romano's Hotel with Senator Hollie Hughes as guest speaker.
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Senator Hughes spoke on her role as a senator and explained how she proposes to oversee a wide-ranging parliamentary inquiry looking at services, support and life outcomes for people on the spectrum.
"They're honest, intelligent, funny - they can be the most amazing people that you'll ever meet," she said.
"We just, as a society or a community, haven't really fully understood or embraced how we can best utilize people with autism."
Senator Hughes, whose 10-year-old son Fred has autism, will chair a select committee which will look at the need for a national strategy.
She said the inquiry would be the first of its kind and that she wants the inquiry to help put the spotlight on the valuable contribution people with autism can make to society.
The inquiry will focus on autism research, social inclusion of people with autism and advocacy and is due to present its final report in early 2021.
Former Senator Bill Heffernan gave the meeting an historic overview of the Water and the Murray Darling Basin Authority.
Newly elected Vice Country Representative for the NSW Liberal Party, Tobias Lehmann, was introduced to the branch and explained his vision for next year.