Nationals Gilmore candidate Katrina Hodgkinson has pledged to campaign for a dual-carriageway to the Victorian border, South Coast residential mental health services and better aged and disability care.
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Launching her campaign in Moruya on February 28, the former NSW Government minister also said the community needed more education and resources to deal with problems associated with the drug "ice".
Flanking her at Moruya Airport was Nationals leader and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack, who said he was "thrilled" Ms Hodgkinson had been endorsed.
The pair gave no indication they intended to play second fiddle to controversial Liberal candidate Warren Mundine, who was endorsed against the wishes of South Coast branch members.
Ms Hodgkinson denied she herself had been parachuted into the seat, saying she had a property in Gilmore and longstanding family connections.
Ms Hodgkinson said other priorities were disability employment services and getting the "NDIS right" and research Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases.
"I believe we need more mental health facilities such as Headspace, here in Batemans Bay," she said.
She wants to see Headspace rolled out in many other regional areas.
Regarding "this man standing next to you", the Bay Post/Moruya Examiner asked: "Will you make his life hell (in order) to see an 80-20 funding deal for the Princes Highway?"
Ms Hodgkinson said she was already lobbying for a divided dual carriageway to the Victorian border.
"I have been lobbying the Deputy Prime Minister already on this issue and look forward to continuing to do so," she said.
She said her priority was to upgrade sections within the seat of Gilmore, but called for "safe passage from the Victorian border to Sydney, straight up the Princes Highway".
