He said previously the State Labor Government and Federal Coalition Government had been ‘playing the blame game’.

“Hopefully that can stop now because there is no one to point the finger at,” Mr Windsor said.

He said it presents a good opportunity, with some viewing it as an ‘awesome prospect’.

Mr Windsor said factored into that is the continuity of the Joint Medical Program between the Armidale University of New England campus and the University of Newcastle, which starts first semester next year.

With Labor’s talk of an ‘education revolution’ in the lead up to the election, Mr Windsor said he would like to see those promises come to fruition.

“The university sector has been under-funded for the last 10 to 15 years, so I would like to see some changes start to take place there,” he said.

Alternative energy and climate change present ‘awesome opportunities’ for regional Australia, according to Mr Windsor.

“We need to get a hold of some of these opportunities, not just renewable fuel such as ethanol and bio-diesel, but also solar and wind power,” he said.

“There is the opportunity to make use of the Walcha through to Glen Innes escarpment for wind power.”

Mr Windsor said seizing alternative energy could value add for the region, and offer diversification from the food market.

Broadband internet and water availability are other top issues for Mr Windsor.