NATHAN REES MP MEMBER FOR TOONGABBIE

MEDIA STATEMENT
28, March 2014

Ladies and Gentlemen Thanks for coming along this afternoon. I e called this !ress conference in order to ad ise that I "ill not #e standing for election in $%&'. Its #een a !ri ilege and an hono(r to re!resent the !eo!le of Toonga##ie) and also to hold the highest office in the *tate. This is not a decision I e taken lightl+. It has #een a li e iss(e for me since the $%&& election) and I ha e taken co(nsel from a n(m#er of !eo!le since then. I ha e #een "orking "ithin Go ernment and !olitics since &,,- . &- +ears. and the time is right to seek ne" challenges and learn ne" things. I make this anno(ncement no" in order to gi e the ne" candidate a +ear in "hich to !re!are and cam!aign. The #est !art of this /o# has #een the !eo!le I e met and "orked "ith. 0le er) com!assionate) committed A(stralians "ho "ant o(r *tate and its !eo!le to f(lfil their !otential. .. A(stralians committed to a !ros!ero(s and dignified *tate "ith a generosit+ of s!irit. I "ill lea e 1arliament satisfied that I e done m+ #est as local Mem#er) Minister and 1remier. The GF0 is fading from memor+) #(t "e na igated it s(ccessf(ll+) im!ro ing o(r AAA credit rating along the "a+. 2e made f(ndamental changes to o(r ed(cation s+stem to ens(re "e ha e the #est ed(cated *tate in A(stralia) and "e a(gmented this "ith 3%%% a!!renticeshi!s and $%%% cadetshi!s. 2e o!ened the E!!ing to 0hats"ood rail line) and "e signed the contracts for the *o(th 2est rail link.

2e sa ed the Ri er Red G(ms) and made the largest land grant in N*2 histor+ to the 4(in !eo!le on the *o(th 0oast. 0riticall+) "e o erha(led the Freedom of Information Act) and esta#lished the Go ernment Information 1ro ision 0ommissioner. 2e introd(ced a register of Go ernment lo##+ists) and #anned donations from !ro!ert+ de elo!ers. I also took a strong stand against corr(!tion. Fo(r +ears f(rther do"n the track) I kno" I did the right thing. The actions that I took in No em#er $%%, as Leader of the 1art+ ha e (ltimatel+ lead to the ongoing and necessar+ reforms c(rrentl+ (nder"a+. N*2 La#or m(st ne er again allo" the circ(mstances to de elo! in "hich a small ca#al of self5interested indi id(als can control the fate of a great 1art+. 1arliaments across A(stralia are f(ll of decent) committed !eo!le "anting to do their #est for their comm(nit+. I ha e made man+ strong friendshi!s in m+ time. In o(r co(ntr+) "e ha e the l(6(r+ of #eing a#le to ha e friends across the !olitical di ide. To all m+ friends in the 1arliament) I sa+ thank +o(. I "ont com!romise Go ernment mem#ers #+ naming them. the+ kno" "ho the+ are. There is onl+ one !erson I intend to mention #+ name 5 her grace) lo+alt+ and integrit+ demand it. 0armel Te##(tt has #een an ins!iration to tho(sands of +o(ng "omen. 7er intellect) resol e and com!assion is a g(iding light for all of (s in N*2 La#or) and #e+ond. *he has ser ed the *tate) her !art+ and Marrick ille in an e6em!lar+ fashion. The *tate is the !oorer for her not r(nning again) and she has #een an (tter adornment to the 1arliament. 1olitics and !arliaments need more !eo!le like 0armel. *he is a dear friend) and I thank her for her tireless efforts. I thank too m+ office staff Nicole) 0hris and 1a(l "ho ha e #een Tro/ans. The La#or 1art+ in N*2 is in infinitel+ #etter sha!e toda+ than it "as in the dark da+s of the of the last term. O(r mission to !(rs(e e8(alit+) fairness and decenc+ is (ndiminished) and 9ohn Ro#ertson and his team are !eo!le of !rinci!le and !(r!ose. I "ish them all the er+ #est of l(ck. Finall+) to +o( the media. I thank +o( for +o(r tireless efforts. In an ind(str+ (ndergoing e6traordinar+ change) +o( ha e each had +o(r o"n challenges) and "ill into the f(t(re. I "ish each and e er+ one of +o( good fort(ne) and thank +o( for +o(r efforts in the N*2 !olitical ecos+stem.
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