In the article written on June, 3 2016 comments were made concerning myself as follows:

“Perhaps the candidate to get the least out of yesterday’s forum, though, was the Christian Democratic Party’s Bernie Gesling. Mr Gesling lost the crowd the moment he admitted he was not a resident in the area and it was clear he was not a genuine contender. That showed the crowd was not to be taken lightly and were not interested in hearing from candidates who were not interested in hearing from them.”

I find it strange that the public are crying out for genuineness in those who represent them and yet this author couldn’t see past local prejudice and the suggestion that somehow because I wasn’t a “local”. I was in the words written “not interested in hearing from them” where those referred to were the Calare constituents.

I too (like Greens Candidate Skye Delainey) have a job, I took time out from my job to travel several hours to be present and part of this meet the candidates forum.

I was interested in “hearing from” those attending the forum and took time after the meeting to listen to the concerns of local residents in Bathurst.

One of the things that I heard related to issues with Bathurst Hospital. I took those concerns to one CDP State MLC and received an intelligent response.

The reason that I stated I was an out-of-area candidate was to be transparent and honest. Perhaps people are not used to honesty these days.

I guarantee that I can bring to the people of western NSW something of understanding for their needs borne of a varied background living both in country towns and the city.

This was an opinion piece and that is what it was, an opinion. For my thoughts, an uninformed opinion.

EVERYONE claims to be some sort of winner in this election – Richard Di Natale, Nick Xenophon, Bill Shorten and the Prime Minister.

Indeed Turnbull virtually claimed victory. If he does win, it will be a Pyrrhic victory, having to deal again with the kind of recalcitrant Senate he wanted rid of.

The very worst result of the election has been the return of Pauline Hanson and her ludicrously named One Nation, a nagging voice for hatred and division.

Hanson continues to milk the political system, earning more from it than she ever would have from her fish and chip shop.

Those knives of the Coalition reactionaries are already being sharpened for the Prime Minister, a talented man but a politician lacking judgement.

It could yet be wrexit for him.

PAULINE Hanson, if the government of Australia agrees to your request for a royal commission into climate change and Islam, will you please give us your assurance you will accept the outcomes as being final and tell your followers to end any objection or disagreement with the findings?

It would be worth spending millions of dollars if we could finally end the stupid and pointless discussion and division these issues cause.