It’s something the Member of the Order of Australia recipient believes is lacking in modern politics and contributing to a lack of confidence in politicians. 

Mr Baxter, who lives at Rutherglen, said unfortunately some politicians were filled with “rank hypocrisy” and the community wasn’t differentiating the good from the bad.  

“I supported the Whitlam government’s Albury-Wodonga growth centre project in the 70s,” he said. 

“Some traditional National Party supporters were less keen on it, they didn’t like the land acquisition aspects and a few other things.

“It caused me a lot of political pain but I think I did the right thing looking back. Since Wodonga has gone gangbusters and it’s now equaling Albury – it’s a premier regional city.

“I’m glad I took the line I did because I think I have been proved right.”

Mr Baxter said modern politics focused too much on populism.

“They do what the last person they spoke to wants them to do or what they think will get them the votes,” he said.

“Politicians now aren’t prepared to take that risk.

“I think you owe it to your community to do what is right, even if it’s not popular at that point in time.”

Mr Baxter, a former farmer, said the fact politicians tended to be career politicians, had contributed to public mistrust and complacency.

“It’s got too narrow, we’ve got too many people who go to school, go to university, go off and work for unions or a minister or MP and work their way into parliament but have never done a day’s work in the real world,” he said.

“They have narrow tunnel vision and we’re paying a heavy price for it now.”