LISA COLE
The Nationals candidate for Durack
POST-mining boom, Australia has high hopes for agriculture as a future pillar of our economy - therefore the people of Durack need a strong independent voice in Canberra.
This is according to The Nationals Durack candidate Lisa Cole said until this campaign, Australia had never seen such a keen focus on agriculture during a federal election period.
"If elected on July 2, I will push for this focus to continue and will lobby for budgeted tax relief for family-owned farm businesses," Ms Cole said.
"The leader of the federal National Party and Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has successfully expanded Australia's export markets and strengthened our international trading ties through the development of a series of free trade agreements.
"This work is also occurring at the State level thanks to The Nationals WA's Seizing the Opportunity in Agriculture policy, which was funded by Royalties for Regions."
Durack is the second largest electorate in the world and it is as diverse as it is big.
Ms Cole said the distance between towns and the diversity of the people and industries made it unique.
"I am inspired by the incredible determination, spirit and pride of the constituents across the electorate," she said.
"I want to see Durack diversify its economy and ensure all residents have the same access to employment and key services as people living in Perth.
"My key objective is to help unlock the region's boundless potential as a great place to live, work and invest."
Ms Cole believes Durack is the powerhouse of the Australian economy and should be the land of opportunity.
"We face unique challenges to deliver health and education services in such a vast and sparsely populated electorate," she said.
"State government initiatives such as emergency telehealth are revolutionising health service delivery to regional WA, and I think there is a great need for similar support from the federal government."
As a mother of three from Bruce Rock, Ms Cole said she was passionate about ensuring the people have access to quality healthcare and education in Durack.
"The people of Durack need a strong independent voice in Canberra," she said.
"They have seen first-hand how Royalties for Regions is transforming regional WA at the State level, and they are ready to send The Nationals WA to Canberra to continue the fight for a fair share for regional WA at the federal level.
"I would be honoured to serve as the Member for Durack to champion the issues that matter to the people of Durack."
Some of those issues include quality education and healthcare.
"All families, no matter where they live, must have equitable access to health and education as their city counterparts," she said.
"The best way to ensure regional hospitals and schools are properly funded is to have a regional voice in Canberra."
Reversing the GST rip-off would be another of Ms Cole's number one priorities.
"For too long, WA has served as the nation's economic engine room, but has received a disproportionate share of the GST pie in return," she said.
"Securing a fairer share of GST revenue would enable greater investment in infrastructure, health, education and telecommunications.
"WA's GST share is at a historical low - from 2012 to 2019, WA's GST share will be lower than any other State's since the GST was implemented.
"While no other State has ever dipped below a 90 per cent GST return, WA has plummeted over the past several years to a record low of 30pc."
Ms Cole said in November 2011,former O'Connor MP Tony Crook moved a motion in federal parliament calling for a 75pc floor to be implemented on GST distribution.
She believed this floor would have created a fairer GST distribution system for all States, while providing an economic safeguard for WA.
"Yet every single MP from WA voted against the motion, choosing to toe the party line and rob their home State of billions," she said.
Ms Cole said another significant issue facing O'Connor was the unprecedented rise in the number deaths on regional roads.
"This is another reason why WA must secure a fairer share of GST - so WA has greater funding that can be invested in road infrastructure," Ms Cole said
In the Durack electorate, poor mobile phone coverage was one of the biggest issues raised by constituents.
"Improving mobile connectivity will be fundamental for social and economic development in Durack," she said.
"Expanding mobile voice and data services will support the growth and prosperity of regional businesses and communities. Eliminating mobile back spot locations will unlock opportunities for primary producers and businesses previously restricted by a lack of mobile connectivity."
Earlier this month, the federal government announced that an additional $60 million would be invested into the mobile black spot program across Australia.
"I welcome this announcement and if elected will work hard to ensure regional WA continues to receive a fair share of funding under the program. I will also lobby for increased funding into research for new and reliable telecommunications technologies for regional and remote areas."
Ms Cole said she would fight to ensure the tax on backpacker superannuation was axed and not just deferred.
"Studies have shown the backpacker tax will cost far more than it can raise," she said.
"It has already lead to a great deal of uncertainty amongst employers in industries that rely on backpackers to fill their labour requirements such as horticulture and tourism."
Ms Cole previously worked for the Bruce Rock shire, before leaving to manage the family farm and start a family.
"I have previously sat on the boards of the WA Farmers Federation Junior Farmers Section and the WA Federation of Rural Youth, as well as many varied and wonderful community and sporting committees within our local Bruce Rock community," she said.
"My family has been working on various mine sites in the Durack electorate for the past 26 years and continues to do so today."
Ms Cole said it was an exciting time for the agricultural sector given the growing demand for quality Australian protein in South East Asia.
"If elected I will work hard to ensure primary producers have access to new and existing markets, appropriate infrastructure to enable industry to meet the needs of a booming market and funding for greater research and development within industry," she said.
"I fully support the live export trade and understand its role as a vital market for sheep and cattle producers which also underpins the domestic market.
