What an eventful year for NSW! The Liberal/National Coalition won government in a landslide and I was appointed the State's 55^th Attorney General and also the Minister for Justice.

As a minister, I have been working hard to generate fresh policy ideas and make improvements in both my portfolio and the Epping electorate, for example, the anti-graffiti legislation which featured in my previous newsletters. We experienced a setback when Labor, the Shooters and the Greens combined to block this legislation in parliament, but I Iook forward to making this election promise a reality in the New Year.

Both the changes to the affordable rental housing policy, and the repeal of part 3A have given people more say over new housing developments in their local area.

The North West Rail Link is also progressing nicely. The test drilling is under way and tenders have been finalised.  The link should have a significant impact on traffic congestion in the area when combined with the M2 upgrade. The commencement of construction on the Marsfield pedestrian bridge is also welcome.

Despite the demands of being a minister, I have made time to continue attending community events in my electorate.

I have visited the elderly in several local nursing homes, including Beecroft Nursing Home, and more recently my band, 'The Tokens', played for the residents of Vimiera Village and Alan Walker Village.

I have presented achievement awards to young sports people and I have also held a morning tea to celebrate couples in my electorate who have passed the milestone of more than 50 years of marriage.

Other local highlights in 2011 include attending the Epping ANZAC Day service and remembering those who gave their lives for our freedom, the reopening of the Beecroft war memorial which was restored after being vandalised, officially opening the Epping Street Fair, and being part of the official proceedings of the Granny Smith Festival. 

I am also pleased to continue my strong relationship with the Chinese and Korean communities, two of the largest communities in my electorate. In my electorate office I now employ a Chinese speaker and a Korean speaker on a part time basis.

Readers of the Weekly Times might be aware of the titanic struggle between myself and Minister Victor Dominello in the paper’s football tipping comp.

Alas, Victor got a break on me when I was too busy and had to ask a staff member to submit my tips. I was never able to reel him in after that and went down by two points. Watch out next year, Victor. 

Congratulating Victor is a little easier because he is a Wests Tigers fan – along with the Premier and Fair Trading Minister Anthony Roberts. With any luck, we hope to be celebrating a premiership next year.

Just like the Woodies, who broke the stranglehold Sydney University had on the Sydney grade competition with a splendid grand final win in extra time.

I have enjoyed another year serving the Epping community and look forward to supporting local events in my electorate in the New Year.