Crook considers return

Tony Crook is considering re-entering the political arena less than 12 months after his shock decision to stand down as federal member for O’Connor.

The former head of the Royal Flying Doctor Service stunned Australian politics in 2010 when he comfortably defeated 30-year incumbent Wilson Tuckey.

Less than three years later Mr Crook announced he would not contest the 2013 election, saying the constant travel to Canberra put too much strain on his family.

Since leaving politics he has been working on a number of projects in the Goldfields.

He is chairman of the Golden Mile Loopline Railway Society and is working with junior mining companies in the Central Desert.

Now, a year after his decision to stand down, Mr Crook says the outpouring of public support has caused him to reconsider.

“It’s fair to say the door isn’t completely closed on a potential return to politics,” he said.

“Although as I said at the time I wouldn’t go back federally, that was probably a bit of raw emotion getting out and on reflection you should always leave the door ajar.

“But the amount of people who’ve approached me from all over the electorate that have written to me and rung me up asking me to reconsider has been overwhelming.

“I’ve got some time to think about that, and we’ll do that in due course.”

Mr Crook did not say what level of politics he would consider returning to.

During his time in Federal Parliament, Mr Crook said he would put the people of O’Connor and regional WA before party politics.

In 2011 he famously introduced a Bill calling for a national 75 per cent floor on GST, which only he and fellow crossbencher Bob Katter voted in favour of.

Meanwhile, Mr Crook said he believed the WA National Party needed to retake control of the Royalties for Regions program.

The WA Economic Regulation Authority called for the program to be cut in its draft report into microeconomic reform, released earlier this month.

“As a keen supporter of the National Party and Royalties for Regions, I think it’s disappointing we’re slowly seeing it being unwound,” he said.

“I firmly believe the National Party should really be reinforcing the view that Royalties for Regions should be what it is and not watered down.”