The Hon. Jenny Aitchison was appointed Minister for Regional Transport and Roads in April 2023 in the Minns Labor Government. Jenny served in Shadow Cabinet for seven years and was Shadow Minister for Regional Transport and Roads from 2021. As well as the Regional Transport & Roads portfolio, Jenny held a variety of diverse portfolios including Primary Industries, Investment & Tourism, Medical Research, Prevention of Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault, Small Business and Women.

Jenny has lived in regional NSW for nearly 30 years, initially in Walcha on the New England Tablelands, and then Maitland. Jenny was elected to represent the community of Maitland in 2015.

As a national award-winning coach tour operator for nearly two decades before she entered Parliament, Jenny was a strong advocate for the bus and tourism industry. A recognised leader in the tourism and transport industry, she served on a number of State and Federal committees and presented to various industry conferences on issues such as leadership, resilience, environment, critical incident and safety management, disability access, increasing patronage, tourism and economic development, and the transition to the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.  

Building resilience in the face of natural disasters

The Hunter’s April 2015 Super Storms which impacted on Maitland happened in the first weeks of Jenny’s first term in Parliament. She has been a strong advocate for impacted communities, individuals and businesses, particularly local farmers during natural disasters both as the Member for Maitland and in various Shadow Ministerial portfolios across the state. Jenny supported the establishment of the Community Resilience Team in Gillieston Heights, a community of over 5,000 people in her electorate which has been completely isolated for over a week twice in the last ten years.

As a leader in the Regional Transport & Roads area, who lives in a flood affected community, Jenny has been instrumental in ensuring a quicker roll out of disaster funding for roads in flood impacted communities, and ensuring access to betterment funding to regional flood impacted communities across the state.  

A strong advocate on health, education, police and emergency services.

With the support of unions and the community, Jenny led and won a 7 year campaign against secret plans to privatise the new Maitland Hospital. She has been a strong advocate for better health funding in Maitland, leading to an increase of 10 per cent in the number of health workers at the New Maitland Hospital in the first 12 months of the Minns Labor Government. Jenny has worked for the upgraded Maitland Police Station, a new Ambulance Station and Regional Fire Station in Maitland, as well as the significant rebuild and expansion of a number of schools including Rutherford Public and Rutherford Technology High, Bolwarra Public, Ashtonfield Public and Gillieston Heights Public Schools.  Jenny continues to advocate for increased investment in our local public schools, and more resourcing for teachers and other education staff.

Committed to community, access and equity

Elected as Chair of the NSW Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Branch from 2015-2019, Jenny was the elected Deputy Chair of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Australia from 2016-2019. Jenny helped establish and was the Foundation President of the Women’s Network Hunter (NSW) in 2005. In addition to the Women’s Network Hunter, Jenny was a member of a number of community organisations prior to her election to Parliament including the Rotary Club of Maitland Sunrise, Maitland BPW and Maitland Regional Art Gallery.  Jenny also regularly held fundraising events for the Cancer Council and other local charities. As the Member for Maitland, Jenny retains her commitment to supporting charities and volunteers.