The residents of Jervis Bay on the NSW South Coast have seen their ACT-based Federal MP Andrew Leigh just once in his 15 months in the job.
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By contrast, Gai Brodtmann, whose Canberra electorate includes Norfolk Island, has visited her offshore constituents four times since she was elected last year.
The Canberra Times revealed yesterday the ACT was planning to extricate itself from agreements to deliver a range of services to the battling coastal community on behalf of the Commonwealth and hand over the responsibilities to NSW.
Chief Minister Katy Gallagher says it is ''crazy'' for the territory to continue to provide child protection, schools, courts and even driving licences to a community 263km away.
The Federal Member for Gilmour, the electorate that adjoins the Jervis Bay territory, said yesterday the ACT's exit strategy was ''the first sensible suggestion to come out of Canberra in a long time''.
Liberal MP Joanna Gash also wants the electoral boundaries redrawn so she would replace Dr Leigh as the Federal representative for Jervis Bay.
Dr Leigh, whose Fraser electorate includes the seaside town, declined to express a view yesterday on the planned handover of services to NSW, but conceded he had been to the disadvantaged community of 390 residents just once since he was elected in July 2010, although he did visit the area during his election campaign.
''I met with Jervis Bay constituents in May, and service delivery was one of the issues that arose,'' Dr Leigh said.
''My main concern is to make sure that Jervis Bay residents get the best deal.''
Mr Leigh praised the performance of Jervis Bay Primary, run by the ACT Education Directorate, as a high performer in NAPLAN tests.
Mrs Gash said yesterday the administrative arrangements for Jervis Bay were ridiculous. ''Residents actually go to NSW for services and for all intents and purposes ... and half the time I represent the people of Jervis Bay even though they're not technically in my electorate,'' she said.
''I do think the services provided now are well run but I certainly believe they should be placed under the auspices of the NSW Government from now on.''
Mrs Gash called for the Federal Government to take the proposal one step further by changing the electoral boundaries to include Jervis Bay in her electorate.
The call for the handover to NSW has the backing of Allan Hawke who used his recent review of the National Capital Authority to urge Minister for Regional Australia Simon Crean to take action on the issue.
But a spokesman for Mr Crean's office indicated yesterday nothing would happen in the short term.
''The minister is considering the report and will respond by the end of the year,'' the spokesman said.