Mandurah MLA David Templeman has become the latest WA Labor stalwart to step down ahead of 2025, announcing his retirement after more than 20 years in state politics.
Mandurah MLA David Templeman has become the latest WA Labor stalwart to step down ahead of 2025, announcing his retirement after more than 20 years in state politics.
Announcing his plans not to contest at the upcoming state election in March, Mr Templeman was accompanied by Premier Roger Cook at Dumas House this morning.
Mr Templeman said he was “finally coming home” to spend more time with his family in Mandurah after the more than two-decade stint in state politics.
Mr Templeman is the Western Australian minister for Culture and the Arts, Sport and Recreation, International Education, and Heritage.
He was elected to state parliament in 2001, as member for Mandurah.
Joined by Premier Roger Cook in a typically jovial press conference outside of Dumas House this morning, Mr Templeman said he was keen to spend more time with his family in the jurisdiction he has represented since the turn of the century.
"My youngest son in particular is asking me every morning, 'are you home tonight, dad, are you going to be home on the weekend?'," he said.
"Invariably, because of the demands of this job, like lots of other jobs, you're not always there.
"So I want to be with them, and I thank my wife Donna, my family and my kids particularly."
Mr Templeman, 59, is undecided on his next career moves, but joked that was on the look out for a talent agent ahead of the arrival of a film studio at Malaga in the years ahead.
He committed to supporting the as-yet undecided Labor candidate for the Mandurah electorate up until the election on March 8 next year.
Reflecting on his time in the parliament, Mr Templeman said he was privileged to have served in Labor governments under three Premiers - Alan Carpenter, Mark McGowan and Roger Cook - and paid tribute to Mr Cook as his favourite of the three.
The minister is the latest in a string of senior Labor politicians to have departed ahead of 2025, joining Women's Interests Minister Sue Ellery, Attorney General John Quigley, former ministers Bill Johnston, Alannah MacTiernan and Peter Tinley, and Lisa Baker, Matthew Hughes, Chris Tallentire, Kyle McGinn and Jess Shaw in calling time on their parliamentary careers.
In thanking Mr Templeman for his service, Premier Roger Cook said he was committed to renewal within party ranks but brushed off suggestions the minister had been asked to retire.
"We want to continue to be a government that is still fresh with energy," he said.
"The opportunity to replace some of our longest serving members of parliament with new people that bring the same passion to the process with new ideas, representing their communities with great commitment, is really what I want to see out of our caucus."
Energy has been a focus for Mr Cook in his rhetoric since ascending to the top job following the fatigue-induced resignation of Mark McGowan last year.
In contrast to Mr McGowan, Mr Templeman said he had plenty of energy left in the tank but other things he wanted to do.
Famous for his end of year songs to parliament, he admitted he had given some thought to the potential of occupying the Speaker role currently filled by Labor veteran Michelle Roberts before deciding to step down.
Mr Cook said the assumed continuation of Ms Roberts as speaker would be a matter for the party pending the results of the 2025 state election.
Mr Templeman said he had one last song left in him.
"I'll have to be conceiving a suitable farewell song for my time here after nearly 24 years," he said.
