About
Neil Thomson
Since 2021, as the Liberal member for
the Mining and Pastoral Region, I have worked tirelessly to ensure my region is
represented properly, including:
Keeping the
Government honest over its response to the devastating floods in the Kimberley
making sure the communities voices are heard on the regional crime crisis
Fighting for
better outcomes in regional centres which are being plagued by poor services
and unreliable power supplies.
Spearheading
the important campaign against the unworkable Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act
which was then repealed by the WA Labor Government after its disastrous
implementation which put livelihoods and our economy at great risk.
As part of the Opposition team, I am
also committed to holding the Government to account on my portfolio areas,
which have included Planning, Lands, Environment and Heritage and now extended
to the important Treasury portfolio, with the retention of Environment.
We must address rising crime, which is
destroying towns in our regions. We need
a circuit breaker to enable people of all ages and backgrounds to transition
from disadvantage and a grinding future in-and-out of the justice system. I am passionate about creating those pathways,
but solutions are often held back by red tape and delays in approvals due to a lack
of commitment by decision makers.
My passion is to create opportunities
for all Western Australians.
I bring my considerable experience to
the table, with almost 30 years in the State Government, including at Senior
Executive positions, I have worked hard to promote community, drive
opportunities in housing and business, create better services, create jobs and
improve urban amenity. My work ethic has been driven to find new ways to be
efficient, be market responsive and make my organisations more strategic to
improve the outcomes for the broader community.
I have served both in a professional
and voluntary basis and I was recognised as a Community Leader by the Premier
in 2006 for my services in the arts, youth and community.
Before entering politics, I ran a
successful consulting business providing economic and policy advice to Local,
State and Federal government agencies as well as private sector clients across
northern Australia. This complimented my long career as an economist in the
public service.
I am passionate about reforming our
economy to create a strong and enduring climate for investment, sustainable
jobs growth while protecting and enhancing our environment.
Previously, in my career, I have:
represented
Western Australia on the Business Regulation and Competition Working Group of
CoAG which considered the impact of regulations in areas as diverse as housing
affordability, transport, water management, commerce and trades licensing.
led
the review of economic policy and regulations governing the fishing industry.
coordinated
competition policy reviews in agriculture, water resources, education,
training, fisheries and commercial trades licensing.
been
part of the reform of agricultural statutory marketing boards, supporting
negotiations on compensation for farmers in the dairy and egg production
sectors as part of the deregulation of those industries.
coordinated
reviews under the national Competition Principles Agreement.
I have a Master of Science
(Agricultural Economics) and I have worked across a broad range of agencies
including the Department of Agriculture, Department of Fisheries, Treasury, and
the Department of Planning, where I was assistant Director General and
Secretary of the Western Australian Planning Commission.
As the Chief Lands Officer (and
Executive Director) at the Department of Aboriginal Affairs, I was inspired by
members of my Board who showed a depth of commitment for some of our most
disadvantaged people in our State. I continue
to build on their vision of creating pathways of success for Aboriginal people
so they can transition through education into sustainable jobs, businesses and
home ownership.
I served as Chief of Staff to the Hon
Bill Marmion MLA and the Hon John Day MLA, covering a range of portfolios
including Planning, Environment, Housing and Culture & the Arts and have
been the Member for Mining and Pastoral Region since 2021.