November this year will mark four years since I had the privilege of being elected as the Member for Orange.
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My staff and I have always maintained an open-door policy, because I wanted every member of community to feel comfortable approaching our office with their issues.
Like most of us, I wasn't born with a burning desire to get into politics. Politicians annoyed me (they still do). I wasn't even involved in local branch politics.
I wasn't fed with a silver spoon like most of Macquarie Street, or groomed to take a position in public life. My wife and I raised five boys through hard work, sacrifice and care for others in our community.
Fighting for our fair share isn't just a campaign slogan for me - it's how I aim to conduct myself in public life.
1. For many years Orange was considered a safe National seat. This hurt us because we were ignored. Major parties don't care about safe seats.
2. To be fair, the previous Labor Government built the new Orange Health Service and Orange Police Station before 2011 election and before that, the Nationals helped push the relocation of DPI from Sydney to Orange in the early 1990s. A great success story.
But even my strongest critics would have to agree our region has never witnessed such level of Government interest and investment than we have had during the last four years.
We have finally put our community back on the map.
I don't need to list all the projects, issues, programs, funding and support we have managed to get for our community over the last four years.
There is plenty more to come.
The latest PR stunt by the former Nationals candidate claiming credit for the $25 million sports facility in Orange is beyond the pale.
I'm not interested in patting each other on the back in some self-congratulatory fake, disingenuous gesture, or fly in and out for some ribbon cutting photo opportunity.
- Phil Donato MP
To suggest I was not in favour of the new sports stadium and that I don't think there is huge economic and social benefits to our community is absolute rubbish.
I even addressed Orange City Council years ago raising the issue along with several statements and questions I have asked in parliament on this project.
In fact I asked the Premier this specific question in Question Time after the new parliament was resumed following the 2019 election! My job is and will always be to hold the government to account on all their promises.
Our community wants someone who is not going to just rubber stamp whatever the government wants, says or does. They want a representative that will consider their best interest and fight for them.
I'm not interested in patting each other on the back in some self-congratulatory fake, disingenuous gesture, or fly in and out for some ribbon cutting photo opportunity.
I roll my sleeves up, get my hands dirty and get stuck-in. That's the way I have been brought up and the way I will continue to operate.
I'll keep fighting for you, Orange. As long as we keep reaping the rewards, that's all that matters.
Phil Donato MP, Member for Orange
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