Newly elected member for Canning Andrew Hastie campaigned on the slogan “not just another politician”.
That was true last week, but after his victory in the polls on Saturday he became exactly that.
When Mr Hastie lands in Canberra, he will be lauded by his Liberal colleagues certainly, but will become just another face among the other 149 members of the House of Representatives, each vying for the government’s attention.
The people of Canning put their trust in Mr Hastie’s leadership, experience and his ability to bring together decision-makers on their behalf.
Now Mr Hastie must deliver for his constituents.
During the campaign, Mr Hastie has committed himself to:
- Developing and implementing a Canning Ice Action Plan within his first 30 days of office.
- Working with the State Government to double mandatory jail sentences for people who endanger children with ice and to introduce first offence mandatory jail terms for adults caught selling methamphetamine to children.
- $150,000 from the Community Development Grants Program to deliver crime deterrents in Mandurah, including Mandurah War Memorial CCTV.
- Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (then communications minister) said the government was building a new mobile phone tower in Dwellingup to tackle mobile black spots. He said: “I’ll be talking to my department and Telstra to see if we can bring it forward.”
- A $1 million government investment in the Port Bouvard Surf Life Saving Club redevelopment.
Mr Hastie should be flat out in his first months in office delivering on these commitments.
That’s now his job.
He has won the trust of the people of Mandurah and to keep it, Mr Hastie must now put the runs on the board.
