Premier Mark McGowan has paid tribute to Cabinet colleague and Member for Collie-Preston Mick Murray, who today announced he would not re-contest his seat at the 2021 State election.
Mr Murray was elected as the Member for Collie in February 2001. He was successfully re-elected in 2005, 2008, 2013 and 2017.
Mr Murray will continue on in his role as Minister for Sport and Recreation, Seniors and Ageing, and Volunteering, until the next election.
In addition to his current roles, during his Parliamentary career Mr Murray served in numerous Parliamentary Secretary and Shadow Ministerial roles.
During his term as Minister for Sport and Recreation, Mr Murray was instrumental in securing the historic deal that enabled Optus Stadium to become the new home ground for the West Coast Eagles and Fremantle Dockers.
He oversaw the naming rights deal for Optus Stadium and RAC Arena, which has delivered a multi-million dollar return for Western Australian taxpayers. He has been a strong advocate for local, grassroots sport - including establishing WA's first dedicated program to build women's facilities at community clubs.
As the Member for Collie-Preston, Mr Murray has championed projects to diversify Collie's economy and create ongoing jobs, to help secure the community's future.
This has resulted in the creation of the $20 million Collie Futures Fund and the $60 million Collie Industry Attraction and development Fund.
Through these Funds, Mr Murray secured numerous new projects across a range of industries, including:
- The $10 million Collie Adventure Trails plan to establish Collie as Western Australia's premier 'trail adventure' town;
- $2.7 million to establish the southern hemisphere's first Caterpillar autonomous technology training facility, expected to train hundreds of people each year;
- The establishment of an expanded emergency services vehicle manufacturing industry in Collie;
- $8 million for a new DFES multipurpose bushfire facility in Collie;
- The establishment of a new Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety regional licensing processing centre in Collie;
- $1 million to revitalise Collie's Roundhouse to transform the historic building into a thriving tourist attraction.
Mr Murray has delivered, or is in the process of delivering, important election commitments including:
- $7.5 million upgrades to Collie Senior High School, a commitment promised by the previous government but never delivered;
- Additional school upgrades including new facilities at Eaton Community College and upgrades to Eaton Primary School;
- $1.5 million to create a 'mega mural' tourist attraction at Wellington Dam;
- $3 million to establish a new water tourism precinct at Lake Kepwari;
- $8 million for a new police station in Capel.
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
"I congratulate Mr Murray on his outstanding service to Western Australia during a decorated political career that has spanned 20 years.
"Mick has made an important contribution during the first term of the McGowan Government. He has performed his ministerial duties with professionalism and enthusiasm, and has worked extremely hard on behalf of his stakeholders.
"Mick is most recognised as a fierce, straight-talking advocate for the people of Collie-Preston, an electorate that includes the communities of Collie, Eaton, Capel, Dardanup, and Donnybrook.
"In the history of the WA Parliament, there has been no greater representative of the community of Collie, an area he has lived virtually his entire life, and Mick's reputation for fighting for his community is well-known.
"He has worked tirelessly to deliver better health and education services, and improvements to dangerous local roads.
"In recent years, Mick has fought on behalf of his community to ensure Collie has a prosperous future, at a time of great uncertainty due to the changing local economy.
"As a result of Mick's advocacy, Collie's future is looking extremely strong and confidence is returning to the community. He has secured numerous new projects that will diversify Collie's economy into new areas like tourism, manufacturing and training, and new jobs are being created as a result of his work.
"I thank Mick for his years of service to his electorate, and Western Australia, and wish him and his family well for the next chapter of their lives."
