Brendon Grylls, Leader of The Nationals WA, Member for Merredin

Making regional Western Australia a better place to live, visit and invest is driving philosophy behind Brendon Grylls. As the State’s youngest leader of a political party, he has achieved more in his young life than many could in a lifetime.

After five years of boarding school at Wesley College in Perth, and a year of law at Murdoch University, Mr Grylls returned home to the family farm in Corrigin in 1992.

At the age of 20, Mr Grylls realised he needed to value-add on his farm if he was to achieve economic sustainability. Subsequently, Windmill Flour was launched, manufacturing wheat into bread flour and sold domestically and internationally.

The business went on to receive an Innovation in Agriculture Award for Excellence and was selected to showcase its products at various expos in Sydney, Melbourne and London.

Brendon’s first foray into politics came in the form as a Councillor on the Corrigin Shire Council. Then, in November 2001 he contested and won a state by-election to become the Member for Merredin.

Brendon has been The Nationals WA spokesperson for small business, tourism, environment, salinity and water resources, and the Shadow Minister for Environment and the Wheatbelt in the Liberal-National Coalition in Opposition prior to the 2005 state election.

He became the Leader of The Nationals WA in 2005 and in the short time he has led the party, has developed a number of policies and initiatives to revitalise and drive regional development in WA.

These include BushCHANGE, Living Lakes 2030, Balance of Power, Royalties for Regions and the $25,000 BushChange Home Owners Grant.

But perhaps the most significant change we have seen under Brendon’s leadership is his drive to lead The Nationals as a stand alone, independent party seeking to gain the balance of power in the Western Australian Parliament in 2009.

Mr Grylls says he is committed to ensuring that all people living and working in the country are given the same opportunities as their city counterparts and that delivering the balance of power to regional Western Australians will enable The Nationals to do this.