Premier Mark McGowan has paid tribute to Cabinet colleague and Cockburn MLA Francis Logan who today announced he would stand down at the 2021 State election.
Mr Logan was elected as the Member for Cockburn in February 2001 and was successfully re-elected in 2005, 2008, 2013 and 2017.
In addition to his current roles as Minister for Emergency Services and Corrective Services, during his Parliamentary career Mr Logan served in numerous other roles, including as a Minister in the Gallop and Carpenter Labor Governments.
Mr Logan held a number of ministerial roles between 2005 and 2008, including Housing and Works; Heritage; Energy; Resources; Science and Innovation; and Industry and Enterprise.
As a Cabinet Minister in the McGowan Government, Mr Logan has delivered a comprehensive agenda of reform in his portfolios and delivered on election commitments.
As Minister for Corrective Services, he embarked on a significant reform of the prison system, including the establishment of Western Australia’s first alcohol and other drug treatment prison and managed the legacy of overcrowded prisons with financially responsible expansions that are delivering 1,228 extra prison beds in WA’s custodial estate.
Mr Logan also oversaw the return of the Wandoo Reintegration Facility and the then Melaleuca Remand and Reintegration Facility back into public hands, delivering better value for WA taxpayers after they were previously run privately.
As Minister for Emergency Services, he bolstered the State’s preparedness for emergencies and strongly advocated for all emergency service personnel. He placed great emphasis on co-operation between career and volunteer emergency services personnel, and travelled extensively across WA meeting those on the front line who keep us safe.
Mr Logan successfully lobbied for a new large air tanker to be based here in WA and secured long-term funding for the RAC South-West Emergency Rescue Helicopter, providing much-needed certainty.
Mr Logan also has delivered the Australian-first Bushfire Centre of Excellence. It will become a renowned hub for bushfire management learning and skills development, once construction of the facility is complete later this year in the Peel Business Park.
As a member of the State Disaster Council, Mr Logan established the State of Emergency to manage the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
As the Member for Cockburn for 20 years, Mr Logan has overseen an infrastructure transformation of the area as it has grown into a bustling community of our southern suburbs.
Major projects include the Mandurah rail line, Cockburn Central Station, freeway widening projects and the new Armadale Road to North Lake Road Bridge – his advocacy of road and rail infrastructure has led to significant investment for the growing suburbs of his electorate.
Mr Logan has played an instrumental role, both prior and during his parliamentary career, in the development of the Australian Marine Complex in Henderson.
First established in 2003, it has grown to be the southern hemisphere’s premier integrated marine industrial facility serving a wide range of industries and the home of thousands of WA jobs and apprentices over the years.
Mr Logan will continue on in his role as Minister for Emergency Services and Corrective Services until the election.
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
“Fran’s service to his electorate and the whole State has been outstanding.
“I want to congratulate him on a successful parliamentary and ministerial career.
“On a personal note, he has been a good friend of mine throughout my own career, as we shared many experiences together over the years, both in Government and in Opposition.
“I’ve always thought his story of achievement was remarkable, arriving here in 1980 from London and rising up to become a successful Government Minister.
“Fran has done it all, as a mechanic, to working in the mining industry and onto university. Fran’s unwavering commitment to working people was always on display through his time in the union movement and Parliament.
“He has delivered across his ministerial portfolios and as the local Member of Parliament for Cockburn – he can be very proud of his contribution to Western Australia.
“As a member of my Cabinet team, Fran always got on with the job and successfully implemented the State Government’s agenda.
“His ministerial responsibilities can be thankless, but his management in dealing with the legacy of overcrowding in our State’s jails has been first-class.
“He has ushered in Australia’s first-of-its-kind alcohol and other drug treatment prison and had some incredible results, with the prison for women having a rate of return to prison of less than one per cent.
“Fran has been an important part of my team over the years; his decision to step down at the election is one that I respect greatly.
“I thank Fran for his years of service to his electorate, and Western Australia, and wish him and his family all the very best for their future.”
