Leader of the Opposition Basil Zempilas today announced the appointment of Member for Cottesloe Sandra Brewer as Shadow Treasurer in the new Shadow Cabinet.
He also announced the appointment of Member for Vasse Libby Mettam as Shadow Minister for Health ahead of the finalisation of the Shadow Cabinet prior to the commencement of State Parliament on April 8.
“I am delighted that Sandra has accepted this appointment to a senior role in the new Shadow Cabinet,” said Mr Zempilas.
“Sandra’s experience, skills, tenacity and capacity for hard work will ensure she hits the ground running in holding the Labor Government to account on its economic management.
“West Australians have been short-changed by Labor with its budget blow outs on infrastructure projects like Metronet and a focus on indulgent pet projects that do not address the issues affecting their day-to-day lives.
“As Shadow Treasurer in our team, Sandra will interrogate, question and demand that Labor have a serious, sustainable and transparent economic and financial plan to undertake genuine economic reform, invest in the right priorities like hospitals, schools and police, provide long-term cost of living relief and boost housing availability.”
Ms Brewer was previously Western Australian Executive Director of the Property Council of Australia.
“In this role, I was responsible for interrogating State budgets and advocating on property taxes, which comprise a quarter of the State’s tax revenue,” said Ms Brewer.
“I’ve been responsible for delivering sound financial performance for global corporations and I relish the opportunity to draw on my real-world experience to take the Labor Government to task on its unsustainable economic and financial management.
“Labor has collected and spent billions in windfall revenue increases from iron ore royalties, taxes and charges on West Australian businesses and households, and the former Federal Coalition Government’s WA GST deal.
“This good fortune is not the result of proactive economic management and, further, has fuelled irresponsible increases in spending driving inflation higher.
“Having a Transport Minister who is Treasurer, writing cheques to herself for transport projects, with no regard for exorbitant budget blow outs is irresponsible and unsustainable.
“And there is no transparency around what is to come, including expensive commitments such as Westport, the cost of the renewable energy transition and pet projects like the speedway at Burswood and an NRL team.”
Mr Zempilas said that the Shadow Cabinet would be further strengthened by the continuation of Libby Mettam as Shadow Health Minister.
“Libby has held the portfolio of Health in Opposition since 2021 and has exposed the failings of successive Labor Health Ministers, including the Premier,” said Mr Zempilas.
“She will use her wealth of knowledge across all aspects of health to hold to account the Labor Government’s multiple health Ministers and will continue to prioritise the key issues of excessive ambulance ramping, long wait lists and the future of the Women and Babies Hospital.”
ENDS
