"I have advised the Governor today that I intend to call a general State election on Saturday, February 6.
"On that day, Western Australians will have to make an important choice about the future of our State.
"In the past three years, as well as the tough decisions I have had to make as Premier, I have been laying the foundations for the future of Western Australia.
"On February 6, I will be seeking a mandate for the new direction in which I want to take the State.
"Within the next week I will be releasing a forward-looking plan which will take Western Australia into the next century and which will build a stronger, more productive State in which everyone gets a fair go.
"The key to the plan will be a range of exciting new measures targeted at converting our traditional mineral and agricultural wealth into new downstream processing, manufacturing and export industries.
"This is the only way that we, as Western Australians, will be able to reach our full potential and secure our future.
"In addition to transforming the economy, the plan will place equal emphasis on revitalising Perth, its metropolitan sub-centres and regional Western Australia.
"All recent economic indicators show we can embrace this new direction with confidence.
"Our campaign will focus on the overriding need to create long-term jobs, securing the future for all Western Australians, providing quality education and quality health services, maintaining law and order, and ensuring a clean environment.
"I am looking forward to this campaign ... I am looking forward to outlining my new directions ... and I am looking forward to the support of the people of Western Australia.
"My campaign will be positive and will be based on issues not personalities ... policies, not gimmicks."
