Nationals to challenge WA minister at poll

The Nationals are putting forward Scott Bourne to challenge Environment Minister Melissa Price for the WA seat of Durack.

Environment Minister Melissa Price in parliament.

Melissa Price. Source: AAP

The Nationals are throwing a contender in the ring for Environment Minister Melissa Price's West Australian seat of Durack.

Scott Bourne has lived in the Pilbara for 12 years and says the region has changed for the better because of the state government's support of infrastructure projects.

"When the National Party were in state government, the regions prospered with commitment to new, much-needed infrastructure," he said in a statement on Friday.

"I believe it is the federal government's turn to support regional Western Australia with long-term commitments to improve education and health at all levels.

"I want to run for the National Party because I want to be that strong voice for regional Western Australia in Canberra."

Ms Price has held the seat - which is Australia's largest electorate - since 2013 and at the moment has an 11.1 per cent margin.

While the coalition parties usually have an agreement not to run three-cornered contests against a sitting MP, the WA Nationals work independently of the federal party organisation.

The move to challenge the minister for her seat comes after Queensland Nationals pressured Ms Price to give the final federal approvals for a massive Adani coal mine in the Galilee Basin.

She signed off on the mine's groundwater plan on Tuesday.

Durack was first created at the 2010 federal election and has only had two sitting members - Ms Price and fellow Liberal Barry Haase.

Labor's candidate is higher education co-ordinator Sharyn Morrow, while the Greens are putting forward indigenous ranger leader Johani Mamid.


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Source: AAP



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