Williamstown MP Wade Noonan has been promoted to the position of Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Minister for Health. 76888 Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI
By VANESSA CHIRCOP
WILLIAMSTOWN MP Wade Noonan has compared working in politics to running marathons.
The Williamstown politician, who has run 10, 42-kilometre marathons, said the benefits of running marathons has served him well in his political life.
“You need perseverance, discipline and focus,” he said.
“You need to essentially keep going when the going gets tough.”
Mr Noonan was last week promoted to Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Minister for Health and Mental Health and the Shadow Minister for Health Promotion, as part of Labor’s reshuffle.
In the new role, Mr Noonan will now provide support to the Shadow Minister for Health and Mental Health, Gavin Jennings and the Shadow Minister for Health Promotion, Danielle Green.
“You work as a team to scrutinise government policies in each of those areas,” Mr Noonan said.
“Health is one of the key issues for any government, so I’m delighted to be supporting a team in Opposition to help scrutinise the Baillieu Government’s performance in this area.
“I will still be spending the majority of my time in the electorate each week, when Parliament is not sitting, and focus very heavily on local issues.”
Mr Noonan entered the Parliament in late 2007 after the sudden retirement of the former Premier, Steve Bracks.
“To be quite frank, I hadn’t ever given any consideration to entering Parliament until a year or so before Steve Bracks resigned.”
“I would not have put my hand up to go into Parliament, as a representative of the Labor Party, if I didn’t live in my seat.
“I have a young family in Williamstown and I feel very strongly about the area, so when Steve Bracks resigned and it was the seat of Williamstown, I put my hand up.”
Despite his new responsibilities Mr Noonan said he was not aiming for any higher positions at this stage.
“My only aspiration and goal is to help my party, the Labor Party, return to government at the earliest opportunity – I will play any role I can for my party in that quest.”
Federal Gellibrand MP Nicola Roxon congratulated the Williamstown MP on his new position.
“Wade has an incredible track record of community service in the West,” she said, “and it is wonderful that his policy brains and determination will now be put to even better use helping ensure the health of our community.”
