Barnett's shadow cabinet lets down mining industry

06/03/03
Opposition Leader Colin Barnett has let down the mining industry by leaving the Opposition's shadow spokesperson for mining out of the recently announced shadow cabinet.
State Development Minister Clive Brown said it was disappointing that Mr Barnett had chosen to ignore the State's largest economic sector in his new line-up.
"Mr Barnett has been very vocal in promoting his new shadow cabinet as the core of a future Liberal Government," Mr Brown said.
"How you can have a shadow cabinet in Western Australia that ignores the mining industry is beyond me."
The Minister said Mr Barnett's oversight was made worse by the fact that the outer shadow cabinet mining portfolio had been allocated to Ningaloo MLA Rod Sweetman.
"Mr Sweetman was recently dumped as shadow agriculture spokesperson because he recognised the good work of Agriculture Minister Kim Chance," Mr Brown said.
"Mr Barnett has seen fit to punish him for his comments by leaving him out of the shadow cabinet and allocating him the mining portfolio."
"You would think that, as a former Resources Development Minister, Mr Barnett would realise the mining portfolio was too important to be used for petty internal politics.
"If Mr Barnett wants to be taken seriously by industry, he should immediately elevate the mining portfolio to shadow cabinet status."
Minister's office: 9222 9699