Re-elected Parkes MP Mark Coulton says he will waste no time in getting back to work after his fifth consecutive win in Saturday's election.
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Mr Coulton told the NVI that, in the coming weeks, he hoped to show his face in Gunnedah, which is "one of the strongest supporting towns I have".
On a two candidate preferred basis, Mr Coulton gained 72.96 per cent of votes at the town hall booth, 67.50 per cent at Gunnedah South Public School booth on Saturday, and 77.82 per cent of votes in pre-polling. Mr Coulton received 66.9 per cent of votes overall in the Parkes electorate.
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Mr Coulton said 20-30 volunteers represented him at pre-polling and on election day but "they're not volunteering for me - they're volunteering for that they believe in and that's democracy in action".
"I think people realise that a lot of what we do on a national level impacts on them on a daily basis," he said.
"I'm very grateful for [Gunnedah's] support and I promise I'll work very hard for them as a community."
It was a quiet pre-election period in Gunnedah, with Mr Coulton the only candidate able to commit to a Meet the Candidates forum organised by Gunnedah Chamber of Commerce, which was subsequently cancelled.
Mr Coulton said when he first ran for Parkes, the electorate was 107,000km and "Robyn and I spent 10 months on the road door knocking" - but the electorate had more than tripled since then and it was now no small feat.
"This is not something you can just step into at the last minute. An election like this is a big commitment," he said.
Now the election was done and dusted, Mr Coulton said he would continue to work alongside Gunnedah Shire Council to explore business opportunities and invest in infrastructure, including the Roads of Strategic Importance initiative.
"We'll be continuing on with work we'll be doing in infrastructure with some of the funding that was announced for programs like Roads of Strategic Importance and I'll be working with council to make sure we get some of their priorities funded," he said.
"Council have got some ideas around ... the potential of other businesses coming to town, like abattoir and feedlots and the like. Whatever comes up, I'll certainly be pursuing on their behalf. Not only through council but individuals.
"On a social level, the apprenticeship programs that were announced, we'll make sure youth get assistance for apprenticeships, and businesses and employers are encouraged to take on local young people."
The drought remains a key issue in the Parkes electorate and Mr Coulton said the government would be working on ways to help people deal with the aftermath of the drought and "ensure the next generation of farmers".