Today I have informed the State Labor Caucus and WA Labor Party that I will not be standing for re-election in March 2025.
I was elected by the people of Mandurah to the State Parliament in February 2001. I have been subsequently re-elected in each election since and have proudly won each of those elections without having to go to preferences. Mandurah has been my and my family’s home for the past 37 years. I love Mandurah and have been privileged to have played a part in guiding it from a town to a magnificent city.
Representing the people of Mandurah has been one of the greatest honours of my life and I remain eternally grateful to them for granting me that privilege.
I am particularly fortunate to have served a full Parliamentary life. I have been a member of Labor Governments led by Dr Geoff Gallop, Alan Carpenter, Mark McGowan and Roger Cook. During the nearly 24 years here I’ve served as Minister under three of those Premiers.
Before entering Parliament I was a teacher and an entertainer. But my first love has always been the theatre, which is why I was particularly thrilled to have been the Minister for Culture and the Arts for the last eight years.
I would like to sincerely thank my amazing Electorate and Ministerial staff for their tremendous support over many years. To former Premiers Alan Carpenter, Mark McGowan and Roger Cook, thank you so much for allowing me to be part of your Cabinets and Governments. To my State Labor Party Caucus Members, you are a remarkable group of dedicated Western Australians and I am so pleased to have been a colleague of yours for so long!
I am grateful that Premier Cook has allowed me to remain as Minister until the March 8 State election. Between then and now I will be totally focused on assisting our magnificent Labor members and candidates in their re-election bids. They, and the Cook Government, have delivered strong, secure and stable Government and so much deserve to be returned.
But my sincerest and deepest thanks goes to my family. My wife Donna and our four kids, Jack, Charlie, Mia and Samuel. Thank you for enduring this journey and for allowing me to do all the things this job demands. To you in particular, I remain eternally grateful. I’m coming home!
