Mr Douglass lives in Harden with Lyn, his wife of 40 years. He and his family own pharmacies in Harden-Murrumburrah, Gundagai and Lockhart.

“As a pharmacist I see the disadvantage that the people in the Southwest Slopes experience in healthcare. Rural areas are under-serviced by health professionals including doctors, nurses and other allied health workers,” he said.

“There are just not enough professionals and those we have are overworked, under remunerated and underappreciated. This causes problems of access to care, increases the cost of care and increases the distances needed to travel to get care. 

“For decades the National party representatives have taken the communities in the electorate of Cootamundra for granted. We have been neglected for decades, but the last by-election saw a swing of 20 per cent against the Nationals.

“This result forced the new local member to start porkbarrelling, throwing our money about like confetti, trying to buy votes. This is lazy politics and poor policy.

“It’s time for a change, for a better future for the people and communities in Cootamundra.”

NSW Opposition Leader Michael Daley said Mr Douglass had “the right credentials” to fight for the community and take on The Nationals in Cootamundra.

“I am proud to stand with Mark Douglass as Labor’s candidate for Cootamundra as he is someone who will serve his community well.

Ms Cooke, who was elected at a by election, said she welcomed the announcement of Labor’s candidate for the state election.

“I’ve opened new ambulance stations, operating theatres, roads and bridges and have been honoured to announce tens of millions of dollars in planned rail and freight infrastructure,” she said.