Let me start by saying, it is my intention to work for YOU and not myself if elected as a Councillor. Many people are rightfully concerned that Councillors seek personal financial benefit from the influence that the role brings. I will seek no contract in any area related to the direct and indirect considerations of the Council. I will highlight the actions of any Councillor who does seek personal
benefit. My wife and I have three boys living in the Shire: two are self employed, one is doing his trade. Over the years I've been the Chairman of Narrabri District Community Aid Services and I was the first Executive Officer of Namoi Water in its inaugural year and stayed in that role for five years. I have worked as an advisor to State MPs, Commonwealth MPs and Senators. I have a good understanding of bureaucracies and Governments. I have good commercial grounding. I chaired the Project Control Group on a state significant project for Bindaree Beef in Inverell. I have put together equity funding and joint venture agreements for industrial land development projects. I understand social services and I understand what it takes to get a major development project approved and funded. I served on the Murray Darling Basin Authority Northern Basin Advisory Committee for four years. In that role, I brought forward the need to carefully measure and attempt to mitigate the impacts of the Basin Plan on Wee Waa and the Narrabri Shire. Much of the funding being delivered today comes from that work. I served on Narrabri Shire Council from 2008 until 2012 and enjoyed the four years. I was too busy to stand again at that time. Local Government is principally involved in service delivery, the delivery of town water, picking up of rubbish, the maintenance of roads and the provision of sports facilities; these are the roles that are well understood. Local Government is also seen by the State and Commonwealth Governments as an important message deliverer on what communities are concerned about. All organisations run on continuity of long-term staff and the strength of management processes, including in this case the experience and capacity of the Councillors. I intend to bring the benefits of my experience and knowledge to ensure that we have a Council focused on efficient service delivery with a particular focus on our roads, as well as the attraction of progressive and successful business ventures. I have been involved with the highest levels of Government in this country and I'm not won over by bluster and poor practice. I will insist on seeing the actual business case and the external advice sought (if any) for the investment of millions of dollars of ratepayer money on the say-so of ventures that haven’t committed to investment as yet.
