The Labor MP was elected along with several of her party colleagues across the Hunter in March, cementing the region’s representation firmly on the opposition benches as the Coalition was returned to government for another term.

Ms Aitchison said this would make it near impossible to deliver on pre-election promises that involved significant funding.

But she said some promises, such as upgrades to the generator that powers the lights at Marcellin Park, could possibly be funded by community grants.

“After 18 months of being on the campaign trail, this has provided me a platform to raise issues that people in Maitland face – things like the hospital, the rail and cuts to TAFE,” she said.

“I’m continually agitating and getting things on the agenda.”

Since arriving in Parliament, Ms Aitchison has been vocal on Hunter issues and has been removed from the chamber several times, as recently as Thursday, for her direct approach.

But she said she was not concerned about being perceived as negative, even though a significant part of her time in Parliament had been spent highlighting problems she believed the government needed to address.

“If I wasn’t an optimist, I wouldn’t raise the issues,” she said.

“I would just say ‘we’re not in government so we can’t do anything’.

“In our [the lower] house, we don’t have the numbers [to win a vote], but hopefully we can sway the crossbenchers.”

Ms Aitchison said the presentation of Premier’s Awards and speaking at Education Week events were some of the positive aspects of her job so far.

Assisting people with public housing issues and helping to solve a parking problem for dialysis patients at Maitland Hospital were among her wins, she said.