Before entering Parliament, I was working in our local area as a doctor. Having worked as an intern, resident and registrar in Adelaide's public hospitals including the Flinders Medical Centre, I understand the strains being placed on our overworked health system. This is one of the reasons I fought so strongly for the new Cancer Centre to be built at the Flinders Medical Centre.

While studying, I was fortunate enough to spend some time in Africa volunteering at a mission hospital. It was during this time that I learnt how rewarding it is to help others. Although back then I was looking after African children and right now I am fighting to provide more aged care places in and around Marion and Brighton the motivations are still the same - to provide support for those in need.

The decision to move from medicine into politics was an enormous personal one. When I ran for Parliament in 1996, Australia had just been through a deep recession, which was particularly severe in South Australia, interest rates had been up to 17% and unemployment was sky high. I felt the need to stand up and get involved.

Having lived in Somerton Park, Mitcham or Hawthorn for most of my life, I have a deep commitment to provide opportunities in Adelaide's southern suburbs and have worked with the Prime Minister and Industry Minister to deliver assistance for workers at Mitsubishi and restructure local industry to provide more local jobs in the future.

As a married father of two young children, I am very conscious of the challenges in achieving an adequate work/life balance and I have fought hard to provide improved local facilities for our free time such as the new State Aquatic Centre to be built at Marion.

As a member of the Howard Government I will continue to stand up for issues especially those that affect the inner south and will fight to keep the economy strong.

• Helping secure our local water supply through the $10 billion National Plan for Water Security.
• Secured $15 million in funding for the international standard Marion Aquatic Centre.
• A $24,000 grant to protect the endangered Grey Box Grassy Woodlands at Waite Reserve.
• Upgrading Moseley Square with a surveillance system to send live pictures to Glenelg Police Station, with a $90,000 grant.
• New classrooms at Edwardstown Primary School, with a $150,000 grant.
• Installing new water saving devices and sealing leaks in the washrooms at Blackwood Primary School - saving 5,200,000 litres of water each year, with a $18,000 grant.
• $45,500 for the City of Marion to upgrade our sporting facilities with dual flush toilets, water saving taps and showers and new water meters - saving 20,000,000 litres of water each year.
• Upgrades to Tutt Avenue and Harrow Terrace, Kingswood with a $140,000 grant.
• A new roundabout at French Street and Birdwood Street, Netherby, with a $109,000 grant.
• $140,000 for a roundabout at Cashel Street and Day Drive, Pasadena.

• Secure our water supply so families can have reliable, clean and sufficient water for their needs through Community Water Grants.
• Improve local roads including upgrading South Road so families can travel safely.
• Crack down on hoons and vandals so families can live free from the fear of crime by installing CCTV cameras at local crime hotspots.
• Support additional funding for a plant research facility at the Waite Institute.
• Improve local school facilities and services so our children can have a high quality learning environment.
• Support our young sportsmen and women by working to upgrade the Marion Sports and Community Club clubrooms and facilities.
• Install new lighting at the Blackwood Football Club to improve playing conditions and safety and support the upgrade of Brighton Oval complex.
• Honour our diggers by building the Mitcham War Memorial Monument in the Soldiers' Memorial Gardens.
• Secure a Performing Arts Centre for Brighton Secondary School and the Holdfast Bay Community.
• Secure Australia's communications needs both now and into the future to ensure that Australians can access multi-megabit broadband services irrespective of where they live.