Federal Member Jamie Chaffey has outlined an ambitious agenda for Australia's largest electorate, emphasising small business support and infrastructure investment

Federal Member for Parkes Jamie Chaffey has used his maiden speech to Parliament to chart a course for revitalising regional Australia, drawing on his journey from apprentice boilermaker to mayor to make the case for greater investment in the bush.

The newly elected MP, who also serves as Assistant Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Resources, delivered a deeply personal address that traced his path from management trainee at a supermarket chain to co-owner of an agricultural equipment manufacturing business alongside his wife Judy.

Speaking to Parliament for the first time in his new role, Mr Chaffey highlighted the unique challenges facing the Parkes electorate—a vast expanse covering more than 400,000 square kilometres, making it larger than Germany or Japan.

"Economic policymaking needs to reflect a holistic approach that makes it easier for people to get a foothold to establish their family," Mr Chaffey told Parliament.

"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."

The speech comes as regional Australia grapples with ongoing population decline and economic pressures, issues Mr Chaffey knows intimately from his eight years as Mayor of Gunnedah. His local government experience, which included leadership roles with the NSW Country Mayors Association and Local Government NSW, has given him what he describes as "greater insight into how the three tiers of government can and should work together."

Mr Chaffey's agenda for the electorate centres on several key areas: support for small business, investment in regional infrastructure including the Inland Rail Project, water security, and managing the rapid expansion of renewable energy projects across the region.

"Bold decisions must be made," he declared.

"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."

The new MP's background in manufacturing and local government appears to have shaped his practical approach to policy. His family business, now run by his children, represents the kind of multi-generational enterprise that has historically been the backbone of regional economies.

Beyond his portfolio responsibilities, Mr Chaffey has been appointed Deputy Chair of the Standing Committee on Primary Industries and will serve on the Joint Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs—roles that reflect the diverse interests within his sprawling electorate.

The Parkes electorate encompasses 20 councils plus the Unincorporated Far West Area, presenting logistical challenges that Mr Chaffey acknowledged in his speech.

He pledged to work closely with all local government areas, drawing on his understanding of the complexities involved in coordinating across multiple tiers of government.

His appointment comes at a critical time for regional Australia, with ongoing debates about infrastructure funding, service delivery, and economic development competing with urban priorities for government attention.

"I want to see other people—other families—thrive on the sheer potential of our region," Mr Chaffey concluded, setting the tone for what promises to be an advocacy-focused approach to representing one of Australia's most geographically challenging electorates.

The full text of Mr Chaffey's maiden speech is available through parliamentary records, with video footage accessible on his official YouTube channel.