The former radio presenter seized 60 per cent of the two party preferred vote for Labor on July 2 and was only days later in Canberra for her first party meeting.

That was before the election count had even confirmed Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull had the numbers to form a Coalition government.

“A lot of really experienced shadow ministers including Stephen Conroy [Defence] told me they’re ready to help,” she said of caucus.

“Holding the government to its Williamtown promises is a massive part of my ‘to do’ list.”

The Coalition promised in June that it would spend $55 million to fund a health study, surrounding affected RAAF bases, to look at potential patterns, causes and affects of the fire fighting contaminants PFOS and PFOA. It also pledged to begin an independent review of new safe drinking water standards within 30 days of reelection after a government committee, EnHealth, controversially established levels 78 times higher than what is accepted in the US.  

“The clock is ticking on that timeline so they need to get on with it,” Ms Swanson said.

“I’ll be holding them to that.”

The former staffer to Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon said she would also jockey for position on the parliamentary defence committee to “fight and advocate” for affected residents.

It could be a month before Ms Swanson moves into the Raymond Terrace office vacated by Bob Baldwin who retired before the election.

“Raymond Terrace is geographically central and will allow me to service the Bay as it would Maitland and Kurri Kurri,” she said.

In the meantime she’s working from home and putting together a team that “has a good understanding” of the Williamtown issues.

“I also want to get out into the community to meet the various groups starting that process of helping out,” she said.

It’s predicted the Coalition will form a majority government but only narrowly. 

“Clearly it wasn’t the result we hoped for… but it’s not the result Mr Turnbull wanted either,” Ms Swanson said.