A childhood spent on the factory floor of the family kitchen manufacturing business and the struggles his parents endured as small business owners were the catalyst that propelled a young, inquisitive Taylor Martin into the world of finance and accounting.
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But it was a chance meeting at a railway station with federal Liberal Party hopeful Lucy Wicks - who "shared my vision to bring more opportunity to our region and back local businesses to grow and transform the area into one of abundance and opportunity" - that convinced the political aspirant to join the ranks of the conservatives.
Today, at age 28, Mr Martin is the youngest member in the NSW Parliament and one of the busiest. In addition to his Upper House duties, the Central Coast-based MLC has been given the job of spokesperson for 12 state seats taking in Port Stephens, Newcastle, Lower Hunter and Central Coast.
Ten of those 12 seats are held by Labor members.
It's a role that was previously performed by two people, and one that an eager Mr Martin relishes, despite the fact Upper House members are only entitled to one staff member.
"I am not daunted by the workload at all. I love being busy and I intend to work as hard as I can," Mr Martin said about fulfilling his duties in a competent manner.
"Whereas prior to the election the government had appointed regional parliamentarian secretaries [such as Scot MacDonald and Catherine Cusack], the Premier has decided to go with portfolios. My role is to act as a sounding board and refer any issues onto the relevant ministers.
"This makes it a more efficient system and allows the cabinet ministers to work closer with regional communities and bodies. I will continue to visit these areas as much as possible. I make at least two trips to Newcastle every week [when parliament in not sitting] and travel to Port Stephens and Lower Hunter as required."
Mr Martin said that the government was committed to fulfilling all its pre-election promises for Port Stephens, with work having already begun on the much anticipated Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park review and the $7 million TAFE (Connected Learning Centre) for Nelson Bay.
"We are in the initial stages of the planning process of the marine park review, going over maps and in discussions with the marine estate expert knowledge panel," he said.
"Meetings with the minister and relevant stakeholders have also commenced on the CLC and announcements on both the $275 million duplication of Nelson Bay Road and $188 million Fingal bypass will be forthcoming."
Mr Martin could not provide timelines for the road projects.
He said that there were a number of stakeholders to be consulted as part of the roads projects, including Port Stephens Council, Road and Maritime Services, Aboriginal land council and community groups.
"These are critical infrastructure and big ticket items which must be planned and budgeted correctly. We must get them right the first time."
As part of his inaugural speech in 2017, Mr Martin gave his reasons for abandoning his Labor Party roots.
"The Liberals are on the side of the workers. We are the ones who back families. We want them to succeed, we want them to contribute and we want them to thrive," he said.
"We should be unashamed as Liberals, as conservatives, to stand up for the values and traditions that made NSW and Australia into the place that we know and love today."
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