When regional Australia is strong, all of Australia prospers.
That's the belief that has guided me during my first 100 days in Parliament as the new federal member for Farrer.
It has certainly been an eventful, challenging, exciting and educational introduction to Australia's parliament.
When I asked the people of Farrer for their support, I made one simple commitment: to return productivity and capacity to Farrer.
One hundred days later, that important commitment remains unchanged.
There is still an enormous amount of work ahead, but the journey has begun and meaningful progress is being made.
Like every new member of parliament, I have also learned some valuable lessons.
Fortunately, none have come at the expense of the people of Farrer - although a few have undoubtedly bruised my own reputation.
Parliament is a unique environment and every day presents another opportunity to learn, improve and better represent the people who placed their trust in me.
At my age, I did not seek election to begin another career. After more than five decades in Australian and international agribusiness, I stood for parliament because I believed I could make a meaningful contribution to the region that shaped my life.
Like most Australians, I adore our country, Australia. I am especially passionate regarding the success and prosperity of Farrer.
Farrer is one of Australia's great productive regions.
Every week of the year, somewhere across our electorate, crops are being harvested, livestock are being produced, food is being processed, and businesses are supplying Australian families and international markets.
Few electorates make such a significant contribution to feeding Australia, earning export income and supporting our national economy.
Our farms support our towns. Our towns support our farms. Together they create the prosperity that underpins communities from Albury and Griffith to our smallest rural locations.
That is why I believe Farrer has a special and interdependent relationship with agriculture.
My philosophy is straightforward. Productivity is creating more value from the land, water, people and resources we already possess.
Capacity is investing in the infrastructure, skills, services, businesses, and industries that allow regional communities to flourish with confidence.
Affordable food, export growth, manufacturing, employment, national resilience, and stronger communities all begin with productive, successful regional economies.
That philosophy now guides every decision I make in parliament. It also explains why one of my earliest priorities has been Australia's water policy.
Parliament is currently reviewing the Water Act 2007, the Murray-Darling Basin Plan and Australia's national food security settings.
These reviews provide an opportunity to ensure our water policy properly balances environmental stewardship with food security, regional prosperity and Australia's long-term sovereign resilience.
Accordingly, my first questions in Parliament focused on Australia's ability to reliably feed ourselves during drought, geopolitical uncertainty and future national challenges, while asking whether current water policy has achieved the right balance between environmental outcomes and productive agriculture.
Regional Australia also deserves to be heard, and their needs clearly reflected in national policy.
This year's federal budget was a reminder that too often regional priorities receive less attention than they deserve.
Local governments continue calling for federal assistance grants to keep pace with inflation, while many regional businesses remain concerned about proposed changes affecting family and discretionary trusts and capital gains tax.
These issues matter because strong regional communities strengthen the entire nation.
Outside parliament, I have spent much of the past three months travelling throughout Farrer, listening to local communities from businesses, industry groups, councils, schools, individuals and so forth; gaining a deeper understanding of the issues affecting every part of this vast electorate.
Those important visits will continue following this parliamentary sitting period.
I have also advocated for Australia's veterans by raising concerns about the proposed $5000 annual cap on allied health services and seeking appropriate protections for those requiring ongoing care.
I was honoured to be appointed to the House of Representatives standing committee on primary industries, where I will work with colleagues from across Australia to examine the current and future opportunities and challenges facing our agricultural and resource industries.
More recently, I joined Murray MP Helen Dalton in visiting the wetlands and drainage projects along South Australia's coastline.
Working constructively with state representatives is important, because lasting reform to Australia's water policy requires co-operation between the Commonwealth and the Basin states.
Behind the scenes, I have also been establishing my electorate offices in Albury and Griffith.
Carefully recruiting the right people has taken time, but I am committed to building an experienced, professional team dedicated to serving every community across Farrer with integrity, respect and responsiveness.
The first 100 days have been demanding, rewarding and an extraordinary learning experience.
I sought - and earned - the responsibility of representing Farrer because I believe regional Australia deserves greater respect, stronger advocacy and a more influential voice in Canberra.
My commitment remains exactly as it was on election day.
Every decision I make will be measured against one question: will it help return productivity and capacity to Farrer?
If the answer is yes, then I will continue fighting for it.
The first 100 days are now behind us. The work has only just begun.
