Federal Member for Parkes and newly appointed Assistant Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Resources, Jamie Chaffey, has pledged to be a strong voice for regional Australians in his maiden speech.

When asked about his new role by the Western Plains App, Mr Chaffey described it as “a rare honour to be the elected member and hold one of the 150 seats in Parliament.”

Mr Chaffey said his address marked “the official end of the ceremonial process of the opening of the 48th Parliament and my first days as the Member for Parkes.”

In a heartfelt speech delivered on July 31, Mr Chaffey reflected on his deep roots in regional New South Wales, a strong work ethic, and a passion for community service that has guided his life and career.

He spoke of his upbringing, his early career as a management trainee with a supermarket chain – “my first real job” – and how that role led him to meet his wife, Judy.

His journey took him from being an apprentice boilermaker in his wife’s family’s agricultural equipment manufacturing business, to eventually co-owning the business with Judy.

Today, their children run the company which he said is proof of the resilience and enterprise found in regional Australia.

“After years of working in small business and volunteering in organisations like Rotary and the Rural Fire Service, I was inspired to run for Gunnedah Shire Council,” Mr Chaffey said.

“Serving as Mayor of Gunnedah for eight years taught me the greatest respect for those who serve as elected members in their communities.”

"I stand here today as the member for Parkes, ready to serve," Jamie Chaffey said in his maiden speech in Parliament.

Mr Chaffey went on to represent rural communities through senior leadership roles, including Chair of the NSW Country Mayors Association and as a board member of Local Government New South Wales.

“These roles gave me a greater insight into how the three tiers of government can and should work together to achieve better results for all Australians,” Mr Chaffey said in his inaugural speech.

 “But they also made me very aware of the challenges that come with navigating these levels, especially for regional areas.”

The Parkes electorate is the largest in the country, spanning over 400,000 square kilometres, larger than Germany or Japan.

Mr Chaffey acknowledged the unique challenges this brings, but also its potential.

He committed to working closely with the 20 local councils and the Unincorporated Far West Area of the electorate and said regional population decline would be a key area of focus.

“Economic policymaking needs to reflect a holistic approach that makes it easier for people to get a foothold to establish their family,” he said.

“Location is a huge part of this, and I want to make sure the cities, towns and villages within the Parkes electorate are the places young Australians choose to put down their roots.”

He also highlighted the need for continued investment in infrastructure, small business, and water security, while raising concerns about the rapid growth of renewable energy developments.

“Bold decisions must be made,” Mr Chaffey said.

“We need to see help for regional Australians in areas such as tax reform, greater economic incentives for people to choose regional towns, better infrastructure, and investment in our roads, local

facilities, and access to the basics such as quality education, childcare, aged care and healthcare.”

“People in the regions are not asking for more than what is received in metropolitan areas, we just want our fair share.

"We want a fair opportunity to thrive.”

Chaffey also acknowledged the importance of unity in a vast and diverse electorate.

“What unites us is stronger than what divides us and that unity will be critical in ensuring our collective voice is heard.”

Mr Chaffey has already begun his parliamentary duties, having been appointed Deputy Chair of the Standing Committee on Primary Industries and a member of the Joint Standing Committee on

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs.

To watch Jamie Chaffey’s full maiden speech, visit his official YouTube channel: Federal Member for Parkes Jamie Chaffey's maiden speech.