The Nationals WA have announced the Party’s headline candidates who will contest the next Federal Election, due in 2019.
Mr Nick Fardell will be no.1 on The Nationals Senate ticket while Pingelly farmer John Hassell will strive to be the first Nationals candidate to secure the seat of O’Connor since Tony Crook in 2010.
“If elected, Nick and John will demand more than the paltry lip service currently paid to our State by the Canberra hierarchy,” said State Party President James Hayward.
“They represent a stronger voice for Western Australia and will deliver a fairer share for our people.”
Mr Hayward said WA MPs from both major parties had shirked responsibility for fixing the GST system, while key region-building initiatives such as the Myalup-Wellington Project were not receiving the advocacy they deserved in Canberra.
“Having a local champion wearing the green and gold of The Nationals WA in Federal Parliament will make the government of the day think twice about neglecting the West again,” he said.
Mr Fardell said it was an honour to run for The Nationals WA and he looked forward to continuing the Party’s century-old tradition of delivering for those whose voices have been drowned out by centralised decision making.
“West Australians are sick and tired of hearing excuses as to why other states and territories are favoured for funding or win major contracts at WA’s expense,” Mr Fardell said.
“If I am elected to the Senate I will do what is necessary to put a stop to the shoddy treatment which has been doled out to Western Australia for years.”
Mr Hassell said The Nationals had a long track record of delivering when others had thrown in the towel.
“Whether it was Tony Crook’s fight for a fairer GST, Brendon Grylls’ fight for Royalties for Regions or Mia Davies’ fight to reverse cuts to regional education and Schools of the Air – The Nationals have a history of putting West Australians at the front of the queue,” he said.
“I look forward to maintaining – and indeed enhancing – our party’s great tradition of delivering for WA.”