It was the 406th time I had stood in the Legislative Assembly chamber and addressed the parliament, and I was proud to be able to do so on this occasion in front of family, friends and staff members.

So much has happened since I was first elected as the Member for Dubbo back in 2011, and I am proud that through the collective efforts of the NSW Government, my staff and myself, we have been able to deliver so much for the electorate.

We truly are in the middle of a golden era of investment and infrastructure delivery to the major centres of Dubbo, Wellington, Mudgee and Narromine, and I look forward to seeing that continue under the next Coalition government.

As was the case in my speech, it is hard to thank everyone personally but I feel I must once again thank my wife Toni and our kids Taylor and Hamish.

Politics isn’t an easy game, and I have become used to rigours that come with it.

But for them, they have been without their husband and father for so many nights and for so many special occasions.

After 30 years of service, between policing and politics, it is time for me to dedicate my time to my family.

To everyone who has supported me and my family over the course of the years, through the ups and downs, once again I say a simple thank you.

Last Monday I got the chance to open the new Tresillian Family Care Centre in Dubbo.

For too long, families from our region have had to travel too far to access these services, which play a vital role in helping parents address issues with their babies and toddlers.

Listening to the ordeal Simone O’Neill and her family have endured, it rammed home just how essential this service is and the NSW Government is proud of the role we have played in bringing it to Dubbo.

So many families battle silently, whether it be sleep or other behavioural issues, but that doesn’t need to be the case anymore.

Hopefully families across the region can make use of this service through the terrific staff that will be involved.

Last week it was also announced that the NSW Government will introduce the toughest sentences in Australia for concealing child abuse, including seven-year prison terms for the worst cases.

Currently, failing to report child abuse without a reasonable excuse carries a sentence of up to two years’ imprisonment, or five years if the concealment was done for a benefit, such as financial gain.

The planned amendment to section 316A of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) will introduce staggered penalties for concealment.

NSW and Victoria are the only states in Australia with a concealment offence specifically related to child abuse (NSW) or child sexual abuse (Victoria).  In Victoria, the maximum penalty is three years’ imprisonment.

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New South Wales has experienced its biggest lift in annual wages growth in four years, according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The NSW Wage Price Index (WPI) rose 1.2 per cent in the September quarter to be 2.4 per cent higher through the year.

More than 70 per cent of NSW industries have seen wages growth accelerate over the past year.  

Among the highlights, workers in the health care and social assistance industry in NSW saw their wages grow by 3.0 per cent followed by education and training at 2.7 per cent.

Wages in the public sector have increased by 2.6 per cent over the past 12 months with the private sector recording 2.2 per cent growth.

Last week, I launched the second season of the NSW Government’s water safety advertising campaign. While we saw a reduction in drowning deaths last summer from the previous year, it was still above the ten year average.

The NSW Government is urging people to Be Water Safe, Not Sorry this summer, to increase water safety awareness and deter risky behaviour that could lead to drowning.

As we enter the Aussie Christmas holidays, I urge people to remember that where there is water, there is danger.

We want locals and visitors to enjoy our beaches, rivers, lakes and pools this summer and we're pleading with everyone to look out for one another to avoid tragedy.

Everyone can do their part to ensure families aren't devastated by the loss of a loved one as a result of drowning.

Be Water Safe, Not Sorry aims to educate people about the very real risks associated with water, and what they can do to ensure they stay safe, including:

Always supervise small children in or near water – don't get distracted by your phone, people at your door, or attending to other children;

Stay sober – don't drink or take drugs and then go swimming or participate in a water-based activity; and

Swim at patrolled beaches, where possible – no flags means lifesavers, so don't overestimate your swimming ability.

Be Water Safe, Not Sorry is based on the findings of a report commissioned by the NSW Government from Royal Life Saving NSW, which found that beaches and swimming pools were the leading locations for drowning, accounting for nearly 25 per cent of fatalities each.

A further 34 per cent drowned in inland waterways like rivers, creeks, streams, dams and lakes.

The report also found that 78 per cent of those who lost their life to drowning were men, with young males aged 25-34 years the most at risk.

Importantly, the vast majority of those who drowned were not international or interstate visitors, which is a common misconception.

More than 70 per cent of victims lived within 100km of where they drowned and over 50 per cent were from Sydney. In fact only one overseas visitor lost their life to drowning last summer in NSW.

The Be Water Safe, Not Sorry message will be communicated through print, radio, social media and Spotify, focusing on the most common locations and behaviours that lead to drowning.

For more information about Be Water Safe, Not Sorry, please visit: www.watersafety.nsw.gov.au

One death is one too many. So I urge people, please swim at patrolled beaches and within the flags, don’t drink or take drugs and swim, and don’t get distracted when supervising young children in or around water.

Have a great summer, but make it a safe one!