FORMER premier Denis Napthine has opted to serve as a backbencher, as Opposition Leader Matthew Guy unveiled his shadow cabinet yesterday.
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The South West Coast MP did not gain a portfolio in the new Guy team. Polwarth MP Terry Mulder and new Lowan MP Emma Kealy also missed out.
Mr Guy has appointed David Hodgett in the high-profile public transport portfolio and Mary Wooldridge is the new shadow health minister, while former treasurer Michael O’Brien will serve in the shadow treasury position.
Daughter of former Portland Liberal MP Digby Crozier, upper house MP Georgie Crozier, has also been appointed to the shadow cabinet. Ms Crozier served as chairwoman of the high-profile state inquiry into institutional child abuse.
National Party leader Peter Walsh has confirmed his organisation will remain in a coalition with the Liberal Party and not break away like his predecessor Peter Ryan did following the 1999 state election.
Dr Napthine covered regional cities and ports during the Baillieu opposition years, while Mr Mulder had transport. Both retained their portfolios following the Coalition victory in November 2010.
The region’s lack of shadow ministers is in stark contrast to the state of play only a year ago when the south-west’s three constituencies — South West Coast, Polwarth and Lowan — were represented by a premier, transport minister and sports minister respectively.
