Newly elected Member for the South West Region, Hon. Louise Kingston MLC has today given her inaugural speech in the Legislative Council, surrounded by her colleagues, friends and family.
Mrs Kingston has set out her vision and her journey to Parliament in a moving speech which marks her first contribution to the Parliament.
“I became involved in the WA Nationals because they care about regional West Australians, and here I now stand, humbled, ready and determined to serve the constituents of the vast South West Region to the best of my ability,” Mrs Kingston said.
Mrs Kingston was previously the Manager of the Manjimup Community Resource Centre before being elected to Parliament.
“Community Resource Centres are the lifeblood of regional communities, and their staff are the most amazing people you will meet, faced with some of the most difficult and heartbreaking stories you will hear,” Mrs Kingston said.
“Our CRCs are woefully underfunded and unsupported, as are many of our regional services, and like everyone are drowning in more and more non-sensical and complicated compliance and regulations that grind everything to a halt.”
Mrs Kingston vowed to continue fighting for regional WA and its industries targeted by the WA Labor Government.
“Why is it that regional industries continue to be used as a political punching bag by the Cook Labor Government?” Mrs Kingston asked.
“Our native timber industry, fisheries and live sheep trade are being sacrificed to meet the ideologies of the inner-city. Policy driven by surveys. Not facts.
“I’m ready to fight for the people of the South West Region and hold the Cook Labor Government to account.”