Major parties play politics while regional WA misses out, Holt

Author: Colin Holt
Published on: 11-August-2010

The Nationals WA State President, Colin Holt, has said the unlikely preference deal between Labor and Liberal in the electorate of Durack was an attempt to shut out an independent voice for regional WA.

Mr Holt said the day Labor’s Shane Hill decided to preference Liberal candidate Barry Haase marked the end of the charade that had been played out in regional Western Australia by the two major parties.

“This preference deal shows that Labor and Shane Hill are prepared to do anything to get to Canberra, including jumping into bed with the opposition,” Mr Holt said.

“It’s disappointing but not surprising that Labor is so keen to avoid having to deliver for regional WA. They would rather preference their sworn enemy to maintain the status quo above The Nationals, the Party that delivered Royalties for Regions.

“Labor knows that people in Durack want to see more of the wealth generated in their area returned from Canberra, but with an Eastern States dominated Party room Shane Hill knows he could never deliver.”

Mr Holt said many Labor voters in regional WA would be unhappy their preferences would flow to the Liberal Party.

“Our feedback from voters in Durack is that they feel let down by Labor’s willingness to preference a sitting Liberal MP, who has delivered nothing for our region, before an independent Nationals candidate who has a clear plan to deliver for regional WA,” he said.

“Labor is no doubt thinking if they can return an ineffective Liberal Member, they might have a better chance of winning the seat at the next election.

“They are seriously underestimating voters in regional WA if they think their shady preference deals will go by unnoticed.”

Mr Holt said the deal made a mockery of Labor’s rhetoric about supporting regional communities.

“People in Durack know there is no way a party that genuinely supports regional WA could put The Nationals last on their how-to-vote card.”

Mr Holt said The Nationals were the only Party with a plan to guarantee a fair share of funding for regional WA, by redirecting current Federal Government infrastructure spending to match Royalties for Regions.