First of all I would like to acknowledge that yes I (the 'bloke') did fill a casual vacancy in the NSW Legislative Council left by Niall Blair in October last year, a position I do not take for granted and a role I do not take light heartedly.

Before fulfilling this vacancy I was a Bathurst-based business owner who also ran businesses in Orange and elsewhere across the Central West, playing an active role in the business community before entering our State Parliament.

Given this local interest in the prosperity of the Central West the NSW Government appointed me as the Government Duty MLC For the electorate of Orange shortly after I commenced my time in Macquarie Street.

I have hit the ground running, relishing the opportunity to advocate for local projects and to get out and about amongst the local communities and the people.

The Southern Feeder Road upgrades undertaken by Orange City Council took a lot of hard work and advocacy by many at both State and Federal level.

Whilst these works were well on their way by the time I got to be a member of Parliament it was a privilege to be invited to see the first cars and trucks make their way over the overpass - a project that means so much to local people and local industries and that the NSW Government contributed over $8million to.

Due to the nature of road construction and Orange Council taking full advantage of the road opening to vehicles, invitations to this particular event were sent out only a day before and to my knowledge the State Member for Orange was also invited but was unable to make it due to being elsewhere in his electorate.

I would like to make it clear to the people of the Orange electorate that I have no qualms about the State Member for Orange being invited to the openings of projects in his electorate, in fact I have communicated with Councils and organisations across the region that it is appropriate he be invited to openings of projects big and small.

I hope this clears up some issues for those concerned, whilst I am a new member of the Berejiklian-Barilaro Government I am still a part of a team who has a track record of delivering for our regions and I look forward to getting out and about to all areas of the Central West and listening to what communities want and fighting for it in Macquarie Street.

Next time Mr Walsh would like to complain about why I (that bloke) turn up when invited and about the NSW Government having an interest in the seat of Orange, maybe he should ensure he has all the facts before putting pen to paper.

Talk to those receiving funding, getting projects off the ground and opening new facilities, you may just find that in some cases two heads are better than one.