I want to take this opportunity to tell you about myself as I will be a regular contributor from now on. At the March 2019 election, I was elected as a Labor Member of the Upper House in the NSW Parliament.
Some of you may remember that I was the Labor candidate for the federal seat of Cook in 2004 and 2007 and I was a Sutherland Shire Councillor from 2008 to 2012.
I have lived and worked in the St George and Sutherland Shire since 1977, I have long been active on the issues that impact our suburbs.
Before entering Parliament, I was an electrician for most of my working life, I then became an organiser at the Electrical Trades Union. I gained an Arts degree majoring in Political Science and an Economics degree with first-class honours during this time.
My wife Anna, our son Gerard and I feel extremely proud to live in Sydney's southern suburbs and we care about the issues that impact our community.
As an Upper House Member of Parliament, I am elected to represent the people of NSW and advocate about the important issues that impact people each day. I am also there to hold the Government to account.
I review and amend legislation, work on committees, scrutinise the operations of Government Ministers and their Departments to try to ensure that you get good government.
I take my role in the Parliament very seriously. My job in Opposition is to ensure that the Government keeps its promises and delivers for our communities.
One of my responsibilities includes being Labor's spokesperson for the state electorates of Heathcote and Oatley.
As part of that role I have been identifying and highlighting issues that I think the Government should be delivering on, especially their promises to residents.
One recent example is the Berejiklian Government's failure to fulfil its election promise of delivering a duplication of the Heathcote Road Bridge over the Woronora River, which has been endangering residents for too many years.
I also intend to update you on matters that are before the NSW Parliament, which will have an effect on St George and Shire residents.
Finally my most significant role is to listen to you, the people I am elected to represent. I would like to be able to hear about the issues that matter to you.
I will always try my best to assist and fight for the issues that are impacting our residents.
Please write to me at office.buttigieg@parliament.nsw.gov.au