The Prime Minister took the time to visit Albury a fortnight ago to discuss this very issue.

The first stop: Overall Forge at Ettamogah, a great Australian die forge company founded in Sydney over 130 years ago, before relocating its base operation here Albury in 1996. The factory currently employs 48 people, creating machine parts and materials to mining, marine and power industries across the Asia Pacific.

It's fair to say turning a state-of-the-art furnace up to 1000 degrees celsius, as well as operating lathes, drilling machines and vertical borers consumes an enormous amount of power. The company contacted me earlier this year expressing concern at an impending gas supply charge due to rise by over $100,000 per month.

Here we had a local business and exporter, trading 40 per cent of its production overseas – a company which shifted its operation away from the east coast to reduce overheads – facing the dead weight of power costs absolutely beyond its control.

Without our plan to ring-fence some of the natural gas we produce here so it is locally affordable, the situation at Overall Forge would remain grim, perhaps terminal.

Their gas costs are still too high right now, but we are providing a path forward for them to steady the balance sheet and plan for the future, in the knowledge the cost of manufacturing won't outweigh the cost of staying in business.

This is extremely important.

When our Government says it wants to put Australian families and Australian jobs first, it is absolutely imperative we deliver action to ensure this is the case.

Developing a sensible path towards cleaner energy is also paramount.

Coal-fired power is, and should be, a shrinking source for the world's future energy options, but those who say it should be stopped right now ignore the need for adequate storage and back-up capacity which both solar and wind require.

Many of the factors which have led to a leap in electricity and gas charges are not of the Commonwealth's doing, but they are part of our responsibility.

Support for reliable, efficient and affordable renewable energy into the future is also our responsibility but it cannot be undertaken blindly at the risk of hurting the now.

Come on dog owners in Albury!

While walking my pooch along Bungambrawartha Creek in Albury I am staggered by the amount of dog excrement left on and adjacent to the pathway.

Whether you are walking or jogging, it’s your responsibility to keep an eye on your dog and pick up after them.

It is after all a public area shared by all the community.

Regulations exist that you can be fined for not picking up after your dog in a public place. 

I believe that these regulations should be extended, so that you can be fined if authorities stop you and you do not have provision on you to pick up after your dog.

If nature calls while you are exercising your dog then we should all have the necessary capacity on us at all times to clean up after them.

It’s time for all of us to be more responsible and do the right thing.