Mark McGowan visited Bakers Hill last week during his pre-election blitz, travelling to all 59 of the State’s Lower House seats in one week.
The Advocate asked the Labor leader what he thinks the main issues are in the wheatbelt and what he plans to do for the region if he were to be elected in March, during his brief stop at The Bakers Hill Pie Shop.
Mr McGowan said Labor does not support the privatisation of Western Power, because regional communities would be affected most adversely.
“I think service standards, maintenance, quality and employment would decline significantly in regional Western Australia,” he said.
“That is an issue we will campaign on.”
Secondly he spoke about the grain freight rail network.
“The Government promised tier three would remain open and it hasn’t,” he said.
“We are not in the position at this time to make a commitment but we understand that it is a significant issue.”
The Labor leader’s parliamentary secretary and member for the Ag region Darren West agreed.
“They promised to keep tier three lines open before the last election,” he said.
“They promised the Northam Hospital upgrade before the last election – they haven't delivered.
“So I think it is all very well to run around and make promises and commitments but this Government has failed to keep them.”
Mr West said Labor would keep Royalties for Regions, but would slightly shift the focus.
“The money will be targeted more to roads,” he explained.
“We think we need to spend more on roads and rail infrastructure , transport infrastructure because that has an economic benefit.
“Things like sport centres are really nice but they give you a social dividend – not an economic dividend.”
Mr McGowan agreed that road safety is a high priority for Labor.
“The death rate on the roads in the wheatbelt is higher than anywhere in Australia – clearly some action is needed on this issue,” he said.
He said Labor has a Road Safety Policy that proposes a regional enforcement unit, dedicated to keeping the roads safer, targeting speeding, drink driving and drug driving.
The Labor leader also said his most recent policy on methamphetamines will have an major impact on the wheatbelt.
“Drug usage in regional Western Australia is very prevalent,” he said.
“We have a very comprehensive policy on methamphetamines.”
In the policy, Labor say they will inject an additional $2 million per annum into treatment facilities to respond to early intervention and severe methamphetamine dependence.
Under this they will fund two dedicated drug and alcohol rehabilitation prisons, one for men and one for women, to target low-level drug related offenders.