Nationals' decision good for WA
14th September, 2008
The Federal Leader of The Nationals, Warren Truss, has welcomed the decision of the Western Australian Nationals today to support a minority Liberal government."This is a decision that will deliver good government to a state that has been crying out for it for many years and a new and more positive direction for everyone who lives in Western Australia," Mr Truss said.
Mr Truss said he appreciated the weight of the decision the Leader of the WA Nationals, Brendon Grylls, and his team had to make in deciding to support the Liberals over the Labor alternative.
"I genuinely believe that a government led by Colin Barnett in Western Australia will be in the best long-term interests of the state and will deliver a far greater level of stability and certainty than Labor could have produced.
“The relationship between the Liberals and Nationals has on occasions been tense, and the new arrangement will require goodwill, trust and respect from both parties.
"The Nationals will be there to keep the new government to its promises and ensure regional Western Australia's voice is clearly heard in Parliament.
"The Nationals campaigned hard for the last three years on the 'royalties for the regions' policy and the interests of regional Western Australians. The terrific vote The Nationals received gives the party and the new government a clear mandate to redress Labor's neglect of the regions. Regional Western Australians will now get a fairer share of government services and investment.
"As I have said many times, anyone in politics or business who does a deal with Labor ends up getting hurt. I am sure that any promises that the ALP made to The Nationals would have proven illusionary.
"This is the first Labor government domino to fall around Australia. There will be more to come," Mr Truss said.
