New Resources Minister and Brand MP Madeleine King excited about possibilities of an Albanese Government

New Cabinet Minister Madeleine King says she is ready to get stuck into it in the new Albanese Labor Government. The Brand MLA has secured the Resources and Northern Australia portfolios, after losing Trade which she held in Opposition to South Australian Senator Don Farrell. Ms King, who grew up in the Safety Bay area, said she felt like she had come a long way from being a long-time Rockingham resident to being a sitting Minister in Cabinet. “It’s a real privilege and I’m thrilled to be in Cabinet,” she said. “(It was) amazing to win the election and get the resounding support of the people of Brand, that’s really affirming and really pleasing and I just have to keep working hard for them.” Ms King steamrolled her Liberal counterpart Peter Hudson in the election, gaining a 10.1 per cent swing in her favour and securing 66.8 per cent of the vote in the two-candidate preferred in an impressive win. She said her campaign function on election night was all nerves and uncertainty until the WA results started rolling in. “When the Western Australian results came in, we knew that we would win the election so that was kind of euphoric but also one of those take-a-breath moments where you’ve got to think about what comes next,” she said. What came next was being the only WA Minister being installed in the Cabinet and the portfolio that’s the backbone of Australia’s economy: Resources. “(Resources is) really important to me and important as a Western Australian, given that so many people here work in the industry and it’s the basis of our prosperity and also the whole country’s prosperity,” Ms King said. “I’ve already got great relationships with industry, so I just want to keep that going and work hard with them and address their concerns and their challenges.” As for the Northern Australia portfolio, the member for Brand said she was excited about helping to build up the communities across the top end and to play a part in seeing constitutional recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the country. “I’m keen to reconnect with the work we did when we were formerly in government and improve on that, and also make sure the Northern Australia ministry is used to help implement the Uluru Statement from the Heart,” she said. “It’s a whole of government approach implementing the Uluru Statement from the Heart so I’m hoping my ministry can only add to that effort because it’s going to be a big national effort.” But Ms King promises she won’t forget about Brand. “That’s a core part of any parliamentarian’s job, whether in the Cabinet or the shadow cabinet or backbencher,” she said “I’ve got a team around me and we talk to local community all the time and that won’t stop now that I’m in the Cabinet. I just hope it brings greater prominence to Brand and the suburbs of Rockingham and Kwinana and all around.”