Slade Brockman (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a bit of a change of tone, and hopefully in a more positive light, when we've just seen a very sad reflection on this place and in that response from Senator Watt—to be perfectly honest, I'm extremely shocked and disappointed—I actually want to talk about the opening of a Merredin office by my two good political friends and I. With Rick Wilson MP, a member from the other place, and Steve Martin MLC, a state Liberal upper house member of the Western Australian parliament, we're opening a satellite office in Merredin for a very good reason.

Merredin is a regional community about three hours east of Perth. It is the centre of a significant part of the Western Australian wheatbelt that needs access to strong representation. It's always had strong representation in its local member, Rick Wilson, and in Steve Martin, MLC for that region, and I would hope I contribute in that respect as well. By having a satellite office in the town of Merredin, we give Merredin and surrounding communities direct access to those state and federal issues, showing them that the Liberal Party have their back—very distinct from both the state and federal Labor governments, who do nothing but neglect, if not outright damage, regional Australia.