It's your call Shorts!
As we head to the next election, the Government's one vote one value legislation has handed 48 seats to the coastal strip between Mindarie and Margaret River, with just 11 representatives for the remaining 95 per cent of Western Australia.
With just 11 seats outside that coastal strip it's easy to guess where most of the State's spending and services will be focused!
Balance of Power is the only way regional politicians can leverage a better deal for their electorate when they are outnumbered by Perth politicians.
Eleven seats, voting as a regional bloc in Parliament can ensure that regional infrastructure and services are not neglected.
If The Nationals achieve the balance of power in the State Parliament country people will be a part of every decision.
And that's where Shorts and his friends come in. Shorts has the final call on whether he and his friends head to the pub or the club - he holds the balance of power in this situation.
The Nationals want to deliver this power to regional voters. We want to replace the decision about the 'pub or the club' with 'funding for Ord Stage II' or 'funding for the extension of the Dampier to Bunbury pipeline' as a priority instead of 'funding for the Perth museum' or 'funding for the Perth foreshore development'.
8 Watch the "Your call Shorts" advert
8 Watch the "Royalties for Regions" advert
Frequently asked questions ...
Q. Who is Shorts and what does he have to do with The Nationals?
A. We've introduced Shorts and his friends to demonstrate how The Nationals can influence the outcome of legislation and expenditure by the State Government, if we held the balance of power.
Q. What will The Nationals do with the balance of power?
A. With the Balance of Power in the State Parliament we'll stand behind a non-negotiable policy called Royalties for Regions
that will return the equivalent of 25 per cent of the State's mining and petroleum royalties for regional and rural projects. We will always act in the best interests of our constituents and the State of Western Australia.
Q. Won't The Nationals just form a Coalition with the Liberal Party?
A. No. In March 2006 The Nationals State Council voted to remain an independent, stand alone political party that would not form a coalition with another political party before or after the next State Election.
Q. Where will The Nationals direct their preferences?
A. In the past, The Nationals always directed our preferences to the Liberal Party, reflecting the coalition arrangement between the two parties. At the next state election, The Nationals will be standing as an independent party. Where we direct our preferences will be decided on a seat-by-seat basis in order to give The Nationals the best chance of winning the balance of power.
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