A HALLS HEAD man who was Premier Colin Barnett’s lead adviser on the environment has announced he will be entering a tough preselection race to replace Kim Hames as the Liberal’s candidate in Dawesville.
Zak Kirkup, who now works as an executive for a Perth-based building company, is one of three declared candidates for the spot including Mandurah lawyer James Versteegen and City councillor Dave Schumacher.
However, senior Australian Navy non-commissioned officer Martin Holzberger is also expected to enter the race after his retirement from the military.
Mr Kirkup said he expected environmental protection and crime to be key issues for the electorate and both required long-term thinking if they were to be solved.
"The area we live in here is unique and natural and needs protecting and enhancing and it’s such an awesome community here I think it needs a representative who can invest in the future, and be a long-term member of parliament, similar to what Kim Hames has been," he said.
"This is a seat that's a very safe Liberal seat in a considerably regional area and the Liberal party should submit someone to their Western Australian parliament who's going to be here for 15, 20 years, who can steward our area and our community into a position where it’s protected and invested in."
Mr Kirkup said he hoped he would bring youth and vigour to the parliament.
“I'll be 30 at the election and I think if you fast forward 15 or 20 years, there's a lot of energy you can use in that time, when you can represent people not only here but also invest in the parliament and ministerial or leadership positions more generally,” he said.
“I think there is a great opportunity for younger people to get more involved, and I think that's something this area is calling out for.”
The electorate of Dawesville has a history of long-serving members of parliament and Mr Kirkup said he wanted to continue this tradition.
“How many people do you come across who criticise governments for only thinking about the next election?” he said.
“For me it’s about youth and a long-term thinking.
“If you have members of parliament who not just think about the next election, but who can afford to think about where we'll be in three terms time, where we'll be in four terms time, that's a big deal and that can offer some good continuity both in opposition and in government.”
