Labor leader Mark McGowan has this week called for an indepth focus on Geraldton and the Mid West as it moves to become the country’s next iron ore province.

Mr McGowan spoke exclusively to The Guardian about what he sees is important to the region as it continues to grow.

Following a recent visit to the Mid West, McGowan said Labor would support the growth of mining projects in the region.

“We are supportive of the Mid West iron ore industry, (and) we think Oakajee has been mishandled by the Premier,” Mr McGowan said.

“His interventionism has been counterproductive and he has squandered signifi cant State money, which should have been the responsibility of the private sector.

So, we have been unhappy with the way he has handled it.

“We do support Oakajee, we (Labor) signed the deal to get it up-and-running and we’d like to see the Mid West iron ore industry develop.”

The Opposition leader said he wants to see a shake up of the Oakajee Port and Rail Project.

“In relation to Oakajee, we want to see it happen, we just don’t think the signals that the Premier has sent to investors have been helpful and I think some of those signals have contributed to the delay,” he said.

“Obviously, ensuring the Geraldton Port is capable and is able to export minerals before Oakajee is up-and-running is important.

“I think some of the Premier’s intervention around Geraldton Port has not been helpful.”

Mr McGowan said Geraldton was at the forefront of regional growth and very much a part of Labor’s new thinking.

“Geraldton is front and centre of our thinking and naturally over time we will develop more policies for the Mid West,” he said.

“As we all know Geraldton did extraordinarily well under the former (Labor) government, with the moving of the railway, the southern transport corridor and other important infrastructure around the community.

“The Barnett Government has one minister for the regions (and) it’s very difficult to get a hold of him. It’s a big place, so having individual ministers for each region provides that direct input and feedback, so I think that’s a good move.”

Mr McGowan said he would like to see more Royalties for Regions money spent on services for the Mid West, including upgrades to Geraldton Regional Hospital and the construction of the 330kV transmission line.

He has appointed Jon Ford as Shadow Minister for the Mid West and has himself taken on the Regional Development portfolio.

“I would be retaining the Regional Development portfolio and if we were successful at the next election I would become Minister for Regional Development,” he said.

“That elevates the regions above what the Barnett Government has in place. It would be the Premier’s role to ensure the regions benefit and people in the regions are looked after.

“That’s quite a deliberate decision on my behalf. I spent a lot of my childhood in country towns so I understand the needs of country people.”

The Guardian contacted the Premier but he declined to respond.