Politicians from different parties aren’t often keen to lend each other a helping hand, but the members for Mandurah and Dawesville have put aside their differences and agreed to put the people first.
Long-serving Mandurah MP David Templeman and newly-elected Dawesville MP Zak Kirkup have said they would work together on important issues for the community and would hold a bipartisan jobs forum to work with the Mandurah community on ideas to generate employment.
Mr Templeman said he was keen to work with Mr Kirkup and he believed people would be warm to the idea of their local politicians working together.
“In my view, no-one’s got a mortgage on good ideas, we’ve got to make sure we get the very best ideas and I have great confidence in Zak’s capabilities,” he said.
“I think he’ll be a great member of parliament and I see no reason why you wouldn’t work with those people around you, who live in the region, who continue to build an understanding of exactly what situation we face.”
Mr Kirkup said the major parties had been sent a message at the recent election that people want their politicians to work together.
“They want us to work for the common good and the sense that I got when I was campaigning is that people are sick and tired of the divisive nature of politics and they want us to come together,” he said.
“Ultimately, all people who seek to become a member of parliament do so because they want to make their community a better place, that’s why I’m so keen, and I’m sure David is as well, that we do meet and work together because that’s exactly what this community wants and needs.”
They said the jobs forum would be an opportunity to create a collaborative approach to solve Mandurah’s job crisis.
“We want ideas, we want people to come to us with ideas, because it [jobs] is the number one issue for so many people living down here,” Mr Templeman said.
“I think we need to include our federal member, quite honestly, I think Andrew [Hastie] has to play a key role in that and we should not ignore local government.
“We all know if we increase employment and we support businesses here so they can employ, then that has all the positive flow-back in terms of community safety, community well-being, it’s all linked.”
Mr Kirkup said he hoped the jobs forum would give him the opportunity to work closer with Mr Templeman and the government to support jobs creation.
“I think a lot of people expect now that the Libs are in opposition that I would take every opportunity to knock the Labor party and knock David or the government, but that’s not what I want to do,” he said.
“That’s not going to solve anything, that’s not going to fix anything on jobs, it’s not going to fix the issues we face as a community.
“It’s an opportunity for us to listen, then to take that away and work out how we can work together to get an outcome that best fits and supports our community.”