Bill Shorten’s Labor Opposition is committed to holding the harsh and inequitable Turnbull Government to account and I am honoured to be given the opportunity to make a greater contribution with my promotion to the Shadow Ministry.

I will work to ensure current policy is questioned when needed while developing alternative policy for when Labor is re-elected to Government.

I am especially pleased that people living in the communities of Rockingham and Kwinana across the electorate of Brand will again have a representative at a senior level in our national Parliament.

Previous members for Brand include former Resources Minister Gary Gray and former Opposition leader Kim Beazley – who succeeded Wendy Fatin, the first Western Australian woman to win a seat in the House of Representatives.

Labor supports the interests of Western Australians and the continued development of the State. My appointment means that the West – and the electors of Rockingham and Kwinana - continue to have a strong voice.