Dean's Priorities

Dean has worked with many parliamentarians, small business people and executives of private companies. He believes a core ingredient to being successful is to focus on issues that really matter to people.

Dean has identified some priority areas where he will focus his time, energy and skill.

Some of his priorities draw on his previous policy experience and others are areas that he believes deserve immediate attention and action.

Building Better Infrastructure

The failure of the Commonwealth Grants Commission to fairly distribute GST payments across all States and Territories is well known to all Western Australians – our GST share will fall to 55% next year and may fall to 27% by 2015.

It's incomprehensible that at a time when WA accounts for more than one third of all projects committed to or under construction in Australia, WA receives the lowest share of GST grants of any State or Territory. Dean believes this is a direct assault on WA's future prosperity.

Falling GST payments to WA means less funding for critical infrastructure projects – projects directly related to our future economic prosperity such as ports, rail expansion and regional road networks, especially for freight.

Western Australians should be alarmed to learn there was only one WA project in a total list of 21 national projects identified in the 2011 Infrastructure Priority List prepared by Infrastructure Australia.

Dean will fight to ensure WA projects are better identified for their national significance and get a bigger share of funding from Infrastructure Australia.

Strengthening Regional Communities

Dean's personal and professional experience has made him aware of the challenges of living in regional WA where access to services such as aged care, education and mental health are not as available.

He believes ageing Australians deserve the dignity, security and comfort of ageing close to their families – this is especially important in WA where many people want the choice of continuing to live in their regional and rural communities; that the lack of quality secondary and tertiary education options for regional families is robbing WA towns and communities of their future vibrancy and sustainability; and that mental health issues amongst young people deserve immediate action.

While there is no simple solution, Dean's experience in the telecommunications industry has shown him that keeping people connected to each-other and to services through improved broadband infrastructure is a critical component in beginning to deliver real benefits to regional communities.

Making WA More Prosperous

A strong WA economy gives small business and families confidence for the future.

The two greatest threats to our economic growth and prosperity are Labor's ruthless commitment to carbon and mining taxes – taxes that will cost WA jobs and reduce our competitiveness.

Dean supports Tony Abbott's commitment to rescind both these taxes in Government.

He also believes the words of caution expressed by WA Premier Colin Barnett, that it would be wrong to put our faith just in China and the mining industry. He is very aware that growing global competitiveness, a high Australian dollar and rising costs for WA businesses could bring new economic dangers to WA.

Reforming the Federation

The principles of Australian Federalism are being constantly challenged by national governments, global forces, technology and modern corporations. In more recent years, the poor performance of Labor State Governments and the encroachment of regionalisation has encouraged greater centralisation in Australia.

Now is the time for action and Dean is ready to argue and fight for change. His ideas for reform include amending financial arrangements in favour of the State's, allowing State-initiated amendments to the Constitution and, radically, allocating High Court seats to the States.