NATIONALS WA State President, Colin Holt has welcomed the pre-selection of ten candidates for key regional seats, who will fight to continue Royalties for Regions and represent regional WA at the 2013 State Election.
In the first round of pre-selections held today, The Nationals WA State Council selected candidates for the Legislative Assembly electorates of Albany; Central Wheatbelt; Eyre; Kalgoorlie; Kimberley; Moore; North West Central (formerly North West); Pilbara; Wagin; and Warren-Blackwood (formerly Blackwood-Stirling).
Mr Holt said The Nationals need to build on current representation to secure the balance of power and continue delivering Royalties for Regions.
“Leader of The Nationals WA, Brendon Grylls was today endorsed as the candidate for Pilbara, a move that is central to our strategy to increase representation,” Mr Holt said.
“We also formally endorsed Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region, Wendy Duncan as the candidate for Kalgoorlie and Member for the Agricultural Region, Mia Davies as the candidate for Central Wheatbelt.”
Current Members of the Legislative Assembly, Vince Catania, Terry Redman and Terry Waldron were endorsed again as candidates for their respective seats of North West Central (formerly North West), Warren-Blackwood (formerly Blackwood-Stirling) and Wagin.
Retiring MLA Grant Woodhams will be succeeded by candidate for Moore Shane Love, current President of the Shire of Dandaragan and board member of the Wheatbelt Development Commission.
Mr Holt said The Nationals were pleased to announce strong candidates in the key regional seats of Kimberley, Eyre and Albany.
Michelle Pucci, candidate for Kimberley, has an extensive background in the Kimberley, including an ongoing involvement with the Wunan Foundation and as Chairperson of the Kimberley Regional Development Australia committee.
The seat of Eyre will be contested by Colin de Grussa, a highly regarded Esperance pastoralist and active member of the WA Farmers Federation, the South East Premium Wheat Growers Association and the Neridup Bush Fire Brigade.
City of Albany Councillor, local business owner and life member of the North Albany Football Club, Robert Sutton, will contest the seat of Albany.
Mr Holt said these candidates recognised the value of Royalties for Regions in their communities and would work to ensure The Nationals WA maintain stewardship of the program following the State Election.
“The Nationals are taking a risk to protect Royalties for Regions because we know how important it is for regional Western Australians.”