Thousands of Hawkesbury residents took the chance to ask Federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese their pressing questions first-hand this week during a phone hook-up with Federal Member for Macquarie, Susan Templeman.

Around 4,000 people joined the phone-in event on Monday, September 20, with residents making the most of the opportunity to grill the Opposition Leader on issues from flood and bushfire support to mental health and vaccines.

“I would like to thank the thousands of locals who tuned in on the night, and those who put so much thought into their questions to Anthony,” Ms Templeman said.

“People often complain that they only hear from politicians around election time, but that’s just not how I operate.

“So many Hawkesbury people have concerns around issues like flood and bushfire support, mental health, vaccines, NBN and mobile coverage that I thought it was important they get their voices heard and help decision-makers at the highest level understand what their issues are.”

The first question on the night came from a Year 12 student from Bligh Park, who asked what mental health supports Labor could provide for young people in the Hawkesbury area.

A grower who lost millions of dollars worth of turf in the March floods asked about funding and future works to help ease the effects of floods.

Mr Albanese pointed out the government had set up the Emergency Response Fund to provide $200 million a year to communities affected by disasters, however had not spent a single cent from the fund in areas affected by either flooding or bushfires.

“Not a dollar of that has gone out the door in the first two years,” Mr Albanese said.

Mr Albanese also said he was open to a funding increase for NSW the Rural Fire Service (RFS) and National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) to improve bushfire preparedness.

Residents raised concerns with consultation on the Richmond Bridge project, as well as poor NBN services in areas such as Bowen Mountain.

Mr Albanese said the current “mish-mash” of NBN services in the Hawkesbury was the result of the scrapping of Labor’s original plan for fibre straight to homes and businesses, and that fixing the problem would be expensive, but necessary.

The local problem of getting timely COVID vaccinations was also raised, Mr Albanese and Ms Templeman voicing support for vaccination leave and criticising the failure to secure enough vaccine supply.

The issue of rapid antigen testing in the workplace was also discussed, with Ms Templeman preparing to attend a presentation by a local testing manufacturer with Hawkesbury business leaders in coming weeks.

Polling of participants on the night showed people’s biggest worry over the next five years in the area was the threat of bushfires and floods.

Ms Templeman said she was pleased to be able to bring the concerns of Hawkesbury residents on such a wide range of issues directly to the Opposition Leader.

“Every day I hear from those who are struggling with the impacts of the pandemic – from people who have lost their jobs, small business owners who are suffering, parents who are helping kids do remote education while working from home, and from essential and frontline workers who are working their guts out,” Ms Templeman said.

“With our community in lockdown, like so many around the country, I can’t engage with people in the typical ways – like meeting people at the local train stations and shopping centres or at community functions.

“Despite these challenges, people’s voices still need to be heard and I wanted locals to be able to go straight to the top. 

“I will continue to make sure their voices are heard loud and clear by the decision-makers of this country.”