“I am honoured and humbled to have been elected the Liberal Member for Bradfield,” said Mr Paul Fletcher. I am honoured and humbled to have been elected the Liberal Member for Bradfield,” said Mr Paul Fletcher.

“I’d like to thank the people of Bradfield for putting their trust in me, to be their representative and a strong Liberal voice for their issues and concerns.”

“Throughout the campaign, people were telling me about the issues which were of importance to them and I believe it is those issues which decided their vote.”

“The issue raised with me most frequently has been over-development – forced on the people of Bradfield by State Labor’s policy to take planning power out of local hands.

“Another concern is health services – typified by the crisis at Hornsby Hospital, where fine staff work in atrocious conditions.  The people of Bradfield have not forgotten Kevin Rudd’s promise that the buck would stop with him on hospitals.”

“People in Bradfield are also concerned about economic management and the enormous debt which Labor has created.”

“Some saw this by-election as a referendum on climate change.  The result confirms what I was hearing on the ground: people voted on a much wider range of issues.”

“On the specific issue of climate change, this result shows that Mr Rudd failed to make the case for Labor’s Emissions Trading Scheme.  He tried to rush it through Parliament just so he could strut the world stage at Copenhagen.”

“Climate change is important – and we need to take the time to get it right.”

“I am pleased the Liberal vote has stayed strong.  There was a marked swing to the Liberal Party in a number of booths – including areas where we lost support in the 2007 election.”

“On a two party preferred basis, the Liberal vote in this by-election will be very close to the figure of 63.5% recorded in 2007 - an excellent result given the challenges that by-elections can often present.”

“My focus now is clear: to continue the outstanding work of my predecessor Brendan Nelson in serving this community,” said Mr Fletcher.