Representatives from the Coalition were in Molong to announce funding for not one, but two health facilities: a brand spanking new ambulance station and improvements to the town’s Multi-Purpose Service, home to the Molong Health Service.

Both are desperately needed, and the Central Western Daily gratefully tips its hat to the state’s leaders for any health boost in this electorate.

Only one question arose from the announcement … why wasn’t the member for Orange invited?

Phil Donato didn’t mince his words when he took to Facebook on Monday afternoon to air his continued frustration at being excluded from government announcements in his electorate.

“You’d think they’d get over these childish antics, really, and try to work collaboratively,” he said.

“You would have thought they’d include the local elected member, but that’s them for you. That’s the way they roll, I suppose.

VIDEO: Member for Orange Phil Donato at Molong on Monday ...

We know how he feels: the Central Western Daily wasn’t invited either. That’s the reason we can’t publish the artist’s impressions of the ambulance station – we haven’t seen them.

This was just the latest snub. For years we have been excluded from state and federal announcements in the Orange and Calare electorates.

As a newspaper trying to give its readers the full spectrum of news, it’s annoying, but much like Mr Donato, we have “plenty of community sources” to tip us off.

We gratefully listen to them, but why should Mr Donato – our elected representative – have to do the same? It’s ridiculous.

It’s also counterproductive. What the government doesn’t realise is that their actions in ignoring Mr Donato, which are intended to ensure the lion’s share of credit for delivered services goes their way, actually casts them in a negative light.

It paints a picture of a petty and frightened group, one more concerned by the repercussions their announcements will have at the election booths than by the impact they have on their constituents.

It’s an ugly look, one which the Government would be advised to ditch at the soonest opportunity.

Mr Donato is our member. If you ignore him, you’re ignoring us all.