Brendon Grylls

The Honourable Brendon Grylls MLA
Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly for Pilbara
Incumbent
Assumed office 9 March 2013
Preceded by	Tom Stephens
Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly for Central Wheatbelt
In office 2008 – 6 February 2013
Preceded by	New electorate
Succeeded by	Mia Davies
Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly for Merredin
In office 2001–2008
Preceded by	Hendy Cowan
Succeeded by	Electorate abolished
Personal details
Born	5 June 1973 Perth, Western Australia
Nationality	Australian
Political party	National Party of Western Australia
Education	Wesley College, Perth
Profession	Farmer
Website	Brendon Grylls MySpace

Brendon John Grylls (born 5 June 1973) is an Australian politician. He has been a National Party of Western Australia member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly since 2001, representing the electorates of Merredin (2001–2008), Central Wheatbelt (2008–2013), and Pilbara (2013–present). He was the leader of the National Party from 2005 to 2013, and was Minister for Regional Development and Minister for Lands in the Barnett Ministry from 2008 until his resignation in November 2013.^[1][2]

Biography

Early life

Brendon Grylls was born on 5 June 1973 in Perth, Western Australia. He was educated at Wesley College, Perth.

Career

His political career began in November 2001 when he contested and won a by-election caused by the retirement of the member for Merredin, former Nationals leader Hendy Cowan. Following a redistribution in 2008, Merredin was largely incorporated into the new Central Wheatbelt Electoral district.

Grylls served as the Shadow Minister for Environment and the Wheatbelt in the Liberal-National Coalition prior to the 2005 election. In June 2005 he successfully challenged then leader Max Trenorden to become the new leader of the Parliamentary National Party of Australia (WA).

He vacated the Electoral district of Central Wheatbelt at the 2013 state election, and contested the Electoral district of Pilbara against Kelly Howlett of the Australian Labor Party, who had replaced the retiring sitting member Tom Stephens.^[3] Grylls easily won with seat with 61.5% of the two-party-preferred vote.^[4]

On 17 November 2013, he announced he would be resigning as leader of the WA Nationals, and from the Barnett cabinet.^[5]

Platform

After becoming party leader, Grylls pushed for an independent National Party and refused to enter into a coalition with either of the major parties before the 2008 state election.

During vote counting on election night, when it was apparent that the party was likely to hold a balance of power, possibly in both houses, Grylls reiterated his stance of requiring that the government deliver 25 per cent of mining and petroleum royalties for reinvestment in regional projects, as outlined in the Royalties for Regions policy. He also said that he would have no problem forming a coalition with the Australian Labor Party if it promised to deliver under the policy.^[6]

After the Liberal–National Coalition came to power, he implemented the Royalties for Regions scheme, which sees the equivalent of 25 per cent of the state's mining and petroleum royalty revenue (capped at $1 billion per annum) invested into Western Australia's regional infrastructure, services and projects.^[7]

References

1. "Hon. Brendon John Grylls MLA". Parliament of Western Australia. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
2. Profile – The Nationals WA profile
3. "The fight is on for Nationals". Fairfax Media. 14 February 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
4. "WA votes – Pilbara". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 9 March 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
5. "WA Nationals leader Brendon Grylls to stand down from leadership and ministry". ABC News. 17 November 2013. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
6. "Grylls playing hard to get in WA power stakes". ABC News Online. 7 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-09.
7. Department of the Premier and Cabinet – Hon Brendon Grylls MLA