“I didn’t quite expect what’s happened,” she said. 

Mrs Butchard launched the petition last week after being shocked to hear Mr Cobb’s comments defending the $7 GP co-payment and suggesting young and unemployed people in rural towns and villages get a lift into town and “find out where the jobs are”.

In the petition residents from Orange, Bathurst, Lithgow, Forbes, Parkes and Oberon are encouraged to give Mr Cobb “an understanding of the real issues facing the people in his electorate”.

Mrs Butchard said she was pleased people were using the petition to express their own concerns about the budget and how it impacted on them.

“John Cobb’s office also contacted me to ask if I had any questions about the budget, which was good,” she said.

One of the petition respondents said the budget would “hurt and probably kill some of the lower income people and give more to the already too rich”, while another said they’d like to see Mr Cobb “have some time with us, the great unwashed who unfortunately for one reason or another may not be as fortunate as others”.

Mrs Butchard said while she’d never been politically active, launching the petition had made her consider running for Orange City Council at the next elections.

The petition can be found online at: www.change.org/petitions/the-hon-john-cobb-mp-represent-the-people-of-calare-and-send-a-message-to-tony-abbott-we-do-not-agree-with-this-budget.

Mr Cobb said he and his office staff would always respond to constituents’ inquiries about the federal budget and any other federal matters.

“I encourage anyone with specific questions to make contact to ensure they get factual and correct information,” Mr Cobb said.

“Next week an insert will be going into the Central Western Daily which will also outline many of the budget aspects that affect local residents”

tracey.prisk@fairfaxmedia.com.au