South West stalwart stands down after 12 years in Upper House

After 12 years as a South West Upper House member for The Nationals, Colin Holt has announced he will step down at the 2021 State election.

Since joining the party in 2005, Mr Holt, pictured, has been on five parliamentary committees, served as the Minister for Housing and Racing, Gaming and Liquor and from 2009-2013 was the party’s State president.

But he says his biggest achievement was being part of the team that developed and delivered the Royalties for Regions program while The Nationals WA were in government.

“I worked with the Department of Agriculture for 16 years and left to start a community regional redevelopment company, The ARID Group,” Mr Holt said.

“It was based on working with regional communities and finding out what they wanted to do, where they wanted to be and how they could get there.”

“We found that communities didn’t know how to talk to companies.

“One of my business partners and I became more politically aware and decided to go to The National Party with a bit of a plan to help revitalise their brand and we eventually became members.

If you want something to change, you’ve got to change from within.

In 2008, The Nationals WA ran for election on Royalties for Regions. Mr Holt was on the State executive and was asked to stand.

“My wife and I were living in Australind at the time and The Nationals didn’t have anyone standing for the South West in the 2008 election so I was approached to do it,” he said.

“I was motivated to get involved and try to help communities, at the end of the day that’s why you do the job, to help people.”

Mr Holt said he was proud to be a part of initiatives like Royalties for Regions.

“Royalties for Regions is something I am really proud I got to be a part of,” he said.

“That doesn’t get delivered by one person, it gets delivered by a team having the ability to influence outcomes at a political level and we did that.

“The amount of change that has occurred throughout regional WA is unquestionable.”

With the changeover in May, Mr Holt is not yet sure how he will spend his free time.

“I’ve had 12 years in this role and I don’t want to waste it, I want to keep contributing using all of my knowledge and experience,” he said.

“All I know is that I want to take on roles that keep contributing to WA.”