However, similar assertions were made by Kevin and his National party when they adopted their Liberal masters privatisation policy agenda in June 2014, hastily changed National party policy and privatised many rural electricity utilities and jobs, also adding invitingly that rural NSW would receive a handsome $6 billion dividend from the sale.

That never happened so the NSW state government then sold the Snowy Hydro scheme for $4.15 billion and another empty promise by Mr Barilaro "every dollar to be spent in regional NSW". We have been told the Restart NSW fund is "powering regional NSW", that regional NSW is "booming" under Restart NSW funding, that the Snowy Hydro transaction "unlocked billions for infrastructure in regional NSW".

I don't think this is close to reality unless perhaps you live in the electorate of Northern Tablelands; the only National MP kicking uniform infrastructure goals across his electorate but as usual I digress.

TransGrid is a critical high voltage electricity distributor sold by Kevin's government just a few short years ago.

The detrimental decision to sell such vital infrastructure to foreign corporations impacted numerous local jobs as well as the economic impact of losing those local jobs, cut annual dividends to state treasury and yet as so often is the case when selling monopoly revenue producing assets still sees the taxpayers furnishing funds for infrastructure upgrades by foreign rent seekers.

The real fly in the anointment is that the proceeds of privatisation have been largely wasted in Sydney on light rail overspends, museum relocations and stadium re-builds. Allegedly there'll be plenty of local jobs too, a promise I hope that is accurately audited. It amazes me that pre-privatisation the local jobs and careers of those valuable employees were evidently worthless, post privatisation the short-term apparently extra local jobs are important as are the opportunities for local businesses.

Kevin recently asked: "How do we reignite our community, how do we kickstart our economy"? How? We could emulate the efforts of the Northern Tablelands MP. We protect rural NSW, we don't vote with our Liberal mates to let crucial long term jobs in critical industries be lost because of a desire to fritter away the states silverware to benefit wasteful projects in Sydney. We stand up for our residents and their families.

Services such as these are vital to the future of rural NSW including long term ongoing local jobs, they make rural regions appealing to families and attract professionals and a range of residents from across the demographic spectrum.

If you want to know why Gunnedah waits for privatisation funds for a new hospital; Tamworth waits for a new Banksia acute mental health unit; water security for Tamworth, Kootingal and Moonbi the greatest of all challenges; a new police station not a renovation; a new ambulance station; duplication of Goonoo Goonoo Road between Calala Lane and Jack Smyth Drive; or the sealing of Rangari Road between Manilla and Boggabri enhancing the safety of road users; then the answer is the ineffectual and at times woefully sporadic delivery of projects to our region by the Nationals.

A party that continues to take our region and others for granted be it water management or drought funding, doing as their Liberal masters dictate which is to the detriment of our region and rural NSW.

Mark Rodda, South Tamworth

I don't know how Tom Piper can accuse the Australian Government of a pathetic response and cowardice over the Coronavirus ('The Australian Government's pathetic response to COVID-19': p19 NDL, 18 April 2020).

Where does he get this from?

If you compare the death rates and infection curve, Australia is doing very well compared to Italy, Britain and the United States. It's clear the Australian government has done a great job, compared to America, for example.

There are things that need criticising, like some confusing rules and the Ruby Princess debacle. But Tom Piper is speaking fantasy and exaggeration.

He also accuses the police of "brutality"; while some police have gone too far, like fining a guy for eating a kebab, calling this brutality is surely an exaggeration.

It seems like even if Scott Morrison cured cancer, some people would still hate him and criticise him for it.

While the economic damage is lamentable, I would prefer that to the alternative of having thousands dead in Australia. Money isn't much good to dead people.

The government's handling of this crisis hasn't been perfect, but they've done a far better job than many other countries.

Daniel Peckham, Tamworth