BALLARAT MP Catherine King says her new role in federal cabinet won’t detract from her work in her electorate.
Ms King has been appointed Regional Services, Local Communities and Territories Minister in Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s reshuffled cabinet.
“I’m still the local member, so I will continue all of that work that I do,’’ she said.
‘‘The new role provides people of the Moorabool Shire an avenue to come and talk to a minister directly. They’ll have good access to me.
“I learn things all the time from regional communities. A lot of what I understand about communities comes from local government in my own electorate.”
Ms King, the Ballarat MP since 2001, joins five other women in the new cabinet.
“It’s terrific to have more women in cabinet; in fact it makes you feel more supported to use your voice,” she said.
“It can be difficult when you’re the only one at the table, so having the other women there is really great.
“I’ve worked very closely with them for a long period of time. We often share views in common. But, apart from that, my role is to argue regional issues from around Australia and I’m not backwards in coming forwards.”
Ms King said she planned to advocate on behalf of groups and projects that were unsuccessful in the last round of the Regional Development Australia grants, including the proposed Bacchus Marsh Aquatic Centre.
