Two Hunter politicians are now in charge of two of the most important shadow portfolios in state parliament.
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Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison has been named shadow minister for primary industries and Cessnock MP Clayton Barr has been given the shadow portfolio for water in opposition leader Jodi McKay's cabinet.
The ongoing severe drought is at the top of their lists.
The drought has left the state's water situation in bad shape heading into summer and farmers are hurting more now than they were when the Mercury started The Big Dry campaign early last year.
"I'm really passionate about primary industries. When I was the small business minister I was going out to regional areas and I could see the impact the drought was having on small businesses, and a lot of primary producers are in small businesses," Ms Aitchison said.
Ms Aitchison did not waste any time dipping her toes into the portfolio. She visited Morpeth farmer Sarah-Jane Dunford on Wednesday, who is offering agistment for 138 Upper Hunter cattle.
The visit also prompted discussions about a range of issues farmers are facing.
The Murray-Darling Basin, and the complexities of the water system, will be among Mr Barr's focus.
Read more: The Big Dry - everything you need to know about the drought
He agreed primary industries and water were the two most important portfolios. After all, without food and water the population would not exist.
"It's times like these that strips it backs to what are the bare human necessities, which is food and water. Water is important, and we seem to have weather extremes," he said.
"I can't make it rain, but I can understand the situation - I need to learn about the Murray-Darling Basin and irrigators' rights - who buys them, what ownership means and how they are traded and sold."
"Both sides of politics, including the crossbench, all understand that water is the source of life. As we send spaceships across the stars to planets the fundamental thing we're always looking for is signs of water because with water there can be life."
Ms Aitchison and Mr Barr championed the Mercury's NSW Drought Petition - a statewide community initiative that called on the state government to implement specific help for farmers. They spoke about the cause during a debate in the Legislative Assembly in November.
While the debate had limited success at the time - it erupted into a slinging match about who knew the most about farming, the government has addressed five out of the seven petition points.
Ms Aitchison also picks up the portfolios of investment and tourism, and medical research. Mr Barr has become the shadow minister for the Hunter and also for innovation, science and tertiary education.
Both said these other duties complemented their interests and previous experience.
The new appointments mean Ms Aitchison has move on from her role as shadow minister for the prevention of domestic violence and sexual assault and shadow minister for small business, and Mr Barr is no longer the shadow minister for Finance, Services and Property.