Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop surprised shoppers in Busselton on Saturday morning by visiting a shopping centre to support two of her female Liberal Party candidates running in the state election.
Ms Bishop joined the WA campaign trail in support of Vasse MP Libby Mettam and the Liberal Party candidate for Collie-Preston Elysia Harverson who is running for her first term.
Ms Bishop said she would support her female colleagues because more female representation was needed in parliament.
“I am here to support my state colleagues because I believe that the March 11 election is one of the most important the state will face,” she said.
“Colin Barnett has a record for achievement for this state and has a plan for the future, not only the physical infrastructure that the Barnett government has been building including the Busselton-Margaret River Airport, the Busselton foreshore and Bussell Highway.”
Ms Bishop said the announcement of the Busselton-Margaret River Airport development was a huge milestone for this part of WA.
She said free trade agreements the federal government had completed with China, Japan and Korea had increased demand for exports, goods and services from WA.
“I believe that small, medium and large businesses would be able to take the opportunity to export goods by better airline connectivity initiatives that are underway,” she said.
“I see huge opportunities not only to send our goods and services overseas but for tourists and businesses in the South West.”
Ms Bishop said the federal government had many initiatives through Austrade to encourage businesses to look at export markets.
She said the conclusion of the free trade agreements and others that were in the pipeline would create unprecedented opportunities for businesses to sell their goods and services into these huge marketplaces.
“I think it is a fantastic opportunity for business here to take advantage of the opportunities that are presented,” she said.
Ms Mettam said the value of the region’s agriculture was expected to double in value from now until the year 2050 and niche products, which were promoted through the state government’s WA Worth Sharing website and airport expansion, would be a crucial part of achieving that goal.
