Cowper MP Pat Conaghan reveals main priorities in maiden speech in Parliament

At times self-deprecating, and at other times deeply honest, Mr Conaghan showed a different side than many were accustomed to during the hard fought election campaign.

He said he was extremely proud to be the first "Kempsey born" member for parliament and paid tribute to his father renowned Kempsey gynaecologist John Conaghan who he said taught him integrity, humility, the value of hard work and to never forget those less fortunate.

"He worked six days a week and on Sunday after mass he would go to the local hospital to do his rounds, quite often with children in tow," Mr Conaghan said.

"He despaired at times at man's inhumanity to man, particularly the aged whom he believed should be treated with dignity in their final years, not discarded as a burden on society.

"Almost 30 years since his passing, the aged care system is bowing under the weight of demand and residents are all too often treated as a number on a ledger to be measured in profit and loss."

He said he believed there were grounds for a Royal Commission into aged care.

Mr Conaghan also spoke at length about his time in the police force.

He described being a cop as the "most difficult, confronting and emotionally exhausting years" of his life but also the "best years" of his working life.

"I saw the willingness of one human to murder or inflict pain on another for little or no reason, the proliferation of child sexual assault and exploitation material, domestic violence and its ugliness, and probably the saddest of all, mental health and suicide, particularly youth suicide," he said.

He also revealed he worked as an undercover operative of the Drug Enforcement Agency.

"Sporting a new persona, long hair, three earrings and a look that morphed between grunge, surfie and Eastern Suburb sect depending on the job, I spent two years away from my family, infiltrating criminal organisations, and gathered information, purchased large quantities of illicit drugs and prepared briefs of evidence to secure the arrests and successful prosecution of criminals and organisations."

It was during this time with an "assumed name, sporting my mullet, earrings and goatee" Mr Conaghan met his wife Ilona.

"She has been able to overlook my deficiencies in looks and character and has been by my side for over two decades," he said to much laughter.

Mr Conaghan was adamant "we cannot wane on our war on drugs".

"Our communities are awash with the catastrophic effects of this poison," he said.

"Families torn apart and displaced, unemployment, violence, robberies and break and enters."

He urged the federal government to do more to support those on the front line.

"Year after year I have seen my former colleagues fall by the wayside with post traumatic stress disorder simply to be forgotten or discarded.

"They are made to fight the system just to receive the care they require, not to move on, but to simply survive, Mr Speaker many have not."

Mr Conaghan said his time running a law practice for 16 years in Sydney bode well for his new career as an MP.

"I know what it is to employ people, to pay wages, to pay tax and I understand how hard small business can be," he said.

"These are the people and businesses that I will ensure that I support because I understand how difficult it can be, and how vital they are for the survival of our towns."

Mr Conaghan ended his speech by thanking his supporters and asking to be "defined, in time, by the totality of what I have achieved for the people of Cowper".