State election Tamworth: National Party's Kevin Anderson candidate profile

Age: 55

Where do you live? Tamworth

What do you do for a living? Member for Tamworth

How long have you lived in the Tamworth electorate? 26 years

What is the best part of living in the Tamworth electorate? The people.

Why are you running for the state seat of Tamworth? I have been the State MP for the past eight years.

Click here to read all of the Tamworth electorate candidate profiles

In your opinion, what are the most pressing issues facing the Tamworth electorate?

Water infrastructure is key to any further expansion of our city. The augmentation of Chaffey Dam to 104 gigalitres has protected the city from the full onslaught of the drought. We need to add a further 20 gigalitres to the dam's storage potential.

What are your key election promises?

$53 million upgrade and development of Gunnedah hospital; $10 million upgrade for a safer Werris Creek Road; $3 million to continue the construction of a dual carriageway on the remaining 1.5km of Goonoo Goonoo Road; and, the sealing and upgrade of Rangari Road.

What is your plan for Tamworth's long-term water security?

Add a further 20 gigalitres of water storage to Chaffey Dam. It is also important to examine the potential for the Dungowan area and maximise the results of a Namoi Water study.

What is your plan to improve the electorate's health services?

Tamworth's $211 million hospital and $33 million cancer centre is serving the community well. 2018 Budget set aside money for Building a Better Banksia. The process is underway. A $53 million upgrade of Gunnedah hospital will be important for that town and its residents.

If elected, will you support mandated nurse-to-patient ratios for hospitals, including Multi-Purpose Services such as Manilla?

Each hospital is unique, we need to ensure that minimum staffing levels are met with the flexibility to slide above that when required.

What are your key policies relating to the drought and drought recovery?

The Government's drought package is extensive - it is now over $1.5 billion. Each farm, each farmer and family is unique - we deal separately with them all. There is a raft of support for them all.

What are your key environmental policies?

The Sustainability Policy outlines sustainable water and energy use, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, waste and fleet management and sustainable purchasing. The policy will deliver becoming carbon neutral by 2020. Invest $22.4 million in Landcare NSW to help deliver more initiatives for the environment and support to volunteers.

If elected, would you be willing to speak and vote against your party's policies if it would harm the electorate, or if it was clear that the majority of residents held a contrary belief?

I am always prepared to speak out and up on behalf of my constituents. I have great access to Ministers' offices, the Deputy Premier and the Premier.

What is your message to the voters?

Look after the people and the politics looks after itself.