Prime Minister to visit O’Connor, Crook

Author: Tony Crook
Published on: 08-August-2011

Nationals WA Federal Member for O’Connor Tony Crook MP has confirmed that Prime Minister Julia Gillard will visit the regional centres of Esperance and Albany this Thursday, August 11.

Mr Crook has lobbied the Prime Minister to visit the electorate of O’Connor, where she will be briefed on a number of significant local infrastructure projects.

The Prime Minister is expected to visit Esperance on Thursday morning to take a tour of the Esperance Port and meet with community representatives.

The Prime Minister will visit Albany in the afternoon to learn more about the role Albany will play in the Anzac Centenary Commemorations in 2014.

“Having the Prime Minister visit the region to discuss these projects is a wonderful opportunity for O’Connor,” Mr Crook said.

Mr Crook said a tour of the Esperance Port would provide the Prime Minister with a greater insight into the infrastructure needs of the Port and demonstrate how Esperance would tie in to the PortLink project.

“The Esperance Port plays a pivotal role in the PortLink project,” Mr Crook said.

“Connecting Esperance to the rest of the nation through the PortLink project is a major undertaking and it is important for the Prime Minister to understand the full scope of this nation-building project.”

The Prime Minister will also be briefed on the redevelopment of the Esperance Foreshore.

“The Esperance community have highlighted the Esperance Foreshore redevelopment as a key regional infrastructure project, and I understand they have made an application for this project to the Regional Development Australia fund,” Mr Crook said.

In Albany, the Prime Minister will visit Mount Clarence to view the proposed site of the Anzac Interpretive Centre and learn more about Albany’s vision for the Anzac Centenary.

Mr Crook said Albany’s Anzac Centenary proposal was now well and truly on the Federal Government’s radar.

“A visit from the Prime Minister highlights just how seriously this project is being taken by the Federal Government.”

Mr Crook said his position on the cross bench has allowed him to negotiate with both sides of Parliament to deliver better outcomes for regional Western Australia.

“Securing a visit from the Prime Minister to O’Connor would have been a much harder task sitting in Opposition,” Mr Crook said.

“I recognise the value of this visit and I will be leveraging this opportunity to deliver a positive outcome for the people of O’Connor.”

See this article on the member's website