The NSW Nationals are pleased to announce that Katrina Hodgkinson has been preselected to contest the seat of Whitlam at the forthcoming Federal Election.

Katrina has a wealth of political experience. She served as a Nationals MP in the NSW Parliament for more than 18 years – firstly as the Member for Burrinjuck from 1999 to 2015, and then as the Member for Cootamundra until 2017.

Between 2003 and 2011 Katrina held a number of shadow ministerial portfolios including Fair Trading and Small Business, Tourism, Major Events, Community Services, Families and Child Safety, Rural Affairs, and Natural Resource Management.

Following the 2011 Election, Katrina was appointed the NSW Minister for Primary Industries – the first woman to hold that position – as well as Minister for Small Business.

She was also appointed Assistant Minister for Tourism and Major Events, and became the first Parliamentary Secretary for Southern NSW following the 2015 Election. Katrina retired as an MP in 2017.

Prior to entering parliament, Katrina owned and operated her own retail businesses in Bowral and Yass for many years. She also worked as an instructor in retail skills, business, and labour market programs for Illawarra TAFE, and as an adviser in the Howard Government.

Katrina is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, holds a Master of Business Administration, and is a Justice of the Peace. She has extensive experience as a Company Director on a variety of boards relating to infrastructure, mining, property, business and philanthropy.

Katrina said she is proud and humbled to have been preselected to stand for The Nationals in Whitlam in this critical Federal Election.

“I said when I left the Parliament that it had been a fantastic honour and a great privilege to serve the people of country NSW and the community that raised me.

“Once again I am seeking to serve my community. Now more than ever the voice of regional Australia needs to be heard,” Ms Hodgkinson said.