Their lies and distortions have offended many local people, and it shows exactly how desperate they are to retain what they see as their birthright being the electorate of Tamworth.

I am keen to restore integrity and honesty into the political system should I win the trust of local people to again represent this wonderful part of the world in the state parliament.

I will not sit quietly by defending the indefensible, while the government encourages coal mining on the Liverpool Plains. I will vigorously defend local communities from the scourge of coal seam gas.

I will fight for a return to appropriate funding for TAFE, and a recognition that the current model is unfair and unworkable.

Equitable fees and equitable access to courses is critical to give local kids encouragement and opportunities.

Water pricing for the Peel and Cockburn water systems must be competitive and fair, so local water dependent industries and farmers can have an opportunity to compete on a level playing field, while households should not have to pay rapidly increasing water charges.

I will stand beside local electricity workers to protect country jobs and fight for a reduction in electricity prices not the inevitable increases that will occur under the Nationals privatisation plan.

Local people deserve much better than the lies and hollow rhetoric on offer from the Nationals. On March 28, Vote 1 Peter Draper.

Peter Draper Independent