Federal Election 2022: Every major candidate for Western Australia’s key 15 seats

With the countdown to Australia’s first COVID national election in full swing, Federal Political reporter Kimberley Caines gives a critical analysis of the 15 WA seats and the major players who could be voted in ... or out. WA has been separated from the rest of Australia for the best part of two years. But the State’s role, politically, may soon be more important than ever. WA could be the golden ticket to whichever major party forms Federal government. The Coalition holds 10 of the 15 WA seats, while Labor has five. And the Opposition is hoping to turn those five seats into 10 come election day, which will be held on May 21. Swan, Hasluck, Pearce, Tangney and Moore are being targeted by Labor. The party tried to do the same with Pearce, Swan, Hasluck and Stirling in the 2019 election. It won none of them. This time around, shock resignations and seat redistributions could be the undoing of Prime Minister Scott Morrison. The Liberal Party has already been put on the back foot, losing the 11th seat it held in the State with the redistribution of Stirling. Then Christian Porter’s controversial exit from politics put his northern seat of Pearce in play for Labor for the first time since its inception. The Liberal-held seat of Swan is also seen as being within reach of Labor, following the retirement of election campaign veteran Steve Irons. And Ken Wyatt is also going to have to fight hard to hold on to the seat of Hasluck covering the Perth Hills. It makes for an interesting three months in the lead-up to the country’s first Federal election in a COVID world. CURTIN Held by: Liberal Liberal candidate: Celia Hammond Labor candidate: Yannick Spencer Greens candidate: Cameron Pidgeon Independent candidate: Kate Chaney Margin: 13.9 per cent Votes won by in 2019: 25,530 Curtin has been seen as a prize conservative seat, with former foreign affairs minister Julie Bishop holding it for 20 years. Since its creation in 1949, it has only been held by a non-Liberal member — an independent — on one occasion. And now the blue-ribbon seat is under siege from high-profile Perth businesswoman Kate Chaney, who is taking on sitting Liberal MP Celia Hammond. “I’ve been increasingly frustrated with Federal politics probably over the last five to 10 years and I think we have really lost vision and integrity and connection with the community in Federal politics,” Ms Chaney said in January. “I don’t feel the policies of Scott Morrison and Barnaby Joyce represent the views of the Curtin electorate.” Labor sources say they are giving Ms Chaney her “time to shine” before announcing their candidate for Curtin. Meanwhile, Ms Hammond said she was not afraid to speak out on the national stage about the issues that are important to her community. “Just this week, I was proud that we announced $7.5 million in funding for a children’s hospice to be built locally,” she said. “I’m also delighted that the building upgrades for the Swanbourne-Nedlands Surf Life Saving Club, for which I had previously secured a Federal Government contribution, will be starting in the coming weeks.” COWAN Held by: Labor Liberal candidate: Vince Connelly Labor candidate: Anne Aly Greens candidate: Isabella Tripp Margin: 0.9 per cent Votes won by in 2019: 1417 Anne Aly’s marginal seat of Cowan is at risk of being snatched by the Liberals — who also targeted the electorate in the 2019 election but were unsuccessful. A redistribution and the loss of Stirling at the next election where Vince Connelly has been the sitting Liberal MP, has seen him try to save his political career by standing in Cowan after failing in the preselection battle for Moore against Ian Goodenough. Ms Aly said COVID-19 and the rising costs of living were the key issues in her electorate. “People in Cowan want to feel secure in their homes, in their jobs and in their community,” she said. Holding on to the seat by a razor-thin margin of 0.9 per cent, Ms Aly said she had a “proven track record of working hard” for her community. “Unlike my opponent, I’m not going to leave them for a safer seat or a better political position for myself. I’m here for them,” she said. Mr Connelly, who is a former Australian Army officer, said he was committed to serving the community. “Since being elected in 2019, I have got to know so many businesses, community organisations, and families right throughout Cowan,” he said. “Together, we’ve achieved so much already.” HASLUCK Held by: Liberal Liberal candidate: Ken Wyatt Labor candidate: Tania Lawrence Greens candidate: Brendan Sturcke Margin: 5.9 per cent Votes won by in 2019: 9074 Hasluck is a marginal seat that changed hands between Labor and Liberal at the first four elections it was contested after being created in 2001. However, that pattern was broken in 2013 with a swing towards the incumbent Liberal member Ken Wyatt, who is the first Indigenous Australian member of the House of Representatives. But Tania Lawrence has fixed her sights on unseating the Indigenous Australians Minister, with the ALP believing the seat is in its reach. “A Labor government will tackle wage stagnation head-on by increasing Australia’s economic productivity in consultation with business, trade unions and other levels of government,” she said. “We’ll convene a jobs summit to get these groups around a table and hammer out a new Australian productivity program that also includes measures to improve the security of work and remove impediments to full employment.” Mr Wyatt is not concerned though, saying he has proved he can “get the job done, and I am not finished yet”. “The single biggest issue I will be focusing on across my electorate is infrastructure,” he said. “Whether that be sporting and road infrastructure in Ellenbrook and Bennett Springs, tourism projects in the Swan Valley, improved access to specialist health care and support for not-for-profits in Midland, recreation area upgrades and crime-combating infrastructure in Kalamunda, or bushfire preparedness and mobile black-spot infrastructure in the hills.” CANNING Held by: Liberal Liberal candidate: Andrew Hastie Labor candidate: Amanda Hunt Greens candidate: Jodie Moffat Margin: 11.6 per cent Votes won by in 2019: 21,002 Labor is targeting the seat of Canning, which has been held by the Liberal Party for 21 years. Former Uniting WA chief Amanda Hunt is the underdog in the race against Assistant Defence Minister Andrew Hastie, who retained the seat for the Liberals at a by-election in 2015 and currently has a comfortable margin. However, the former SAS soldier has spent the past year furiously building a $200,000 “campaign fighting fund” and also been dragged into Perth property developer Greg Poland’s attempt to sue Nine website WAtoday for defamation. Despite this, Mr Hastie says he fights for the things that matter in his electorate, “like stopping the Point Grey dredge alongside a grassroots community campaign”. “I’ve delivered funding for infrastructure and essential services our fast-growing region needs, like the Lakelands Train Station,” he said. Meanwhile, Ms Hunt, who was also previously state director of Mission Australia, says “voters in Canning want a Federal Government and a local member who will work in partnership with WA”. She added: “I’ve dedicated my career to making life better for Western Australian families, and want to continue that work in the Federal Parliament. When she was announced as Labor’s candidate this month, WA Labor State secretary Tim Picton said: “Amanda Hunt has spent her whole life fighting for WA families. Andrew Hastie refused to stand up for WA when Scott Morrison was backing Clive Palmer against our State.” FREMANTLE Held by: Labor Liberal candidate: Bill Koul Labor candidate: Josh Wilson Greens candidate: Felicity Townsend Margin: 6.9 per cent Votes won by in 2019: 12,601 The seat of Fremantle was created at Federation in 1900 and was one of the original 65 divisions contested at the first Federal election the following year. Josh Wilson is the sitting MP, after being re-elected in the 2018 Fremantle by-election. He first won the seat in 2016, but in 2018 was forced to resign from Parliament for failing to renounce his British citizenship before nomination in the previous Federal election. Mr Wilson said his electorate had one main election issue. “Understandably, people in Fremantle would like to see a competent Federal government with integrity,” he said. “I have been a strong voice for Fremantle and a hard-working contributor to national policy in areas like ocean protection and recycling as shadow assistant minister for the environment.” Meanwhile, engineer Bill Koul, who was announced as the Liberal candidate on Friday, promises to fight for extra funding for the redevelopment of the East Fremantle Oval Precinct. “As a small business owner, Bill understands the challenges facing local businesses in Fremantle and what they need to succeed,” his team said. PEARCE Held by: Liberal Liberal candidate: Linda Aitken Labor candidate: Tracey Roberts Greens candidate: Donna Nelson Margin: 5.2 per cent Votes won by in 2019: 15,033 All eyes will be on Pearce following the resignation of Mr Porter who had a scandal-ridden 2021 when he was demoted within the Federal Cabinet before being forced to quit politics altogether. The seat has been in Liberal hands since its inception in 1990 but after a boundary redistribution last year and the loss of an election campaign veteran, the race to win the electorate is now considered much tighter. Clinical nurse and Wanneroo councillor Linda Aitken is Mr Porter’s replacement and is up against Wanneroo Mayor Tracey Roberts, who has a strong connection with the community and is considered Labor’s star WA candidate. Ms Roberts said her focus would be securing local jobs for the future, supporting businesses and investing in TAFE and university training. “The people of Pearce deserve support to combat rising childcare costs and Medicare cuts,” she said. “They deserve someone who fights for local jobs and infrastructure.” WA Liberal Party State president Richard Wilson said in December that Ms Aitken was “clearly the best person to represent Pearce in the national Parliament” and emphasised her career as a nurse “caring for people at their most vulnerable times”. “A vote for any candidate in Pearce other than Linda Aitken is in effect a vote to make Anthony Albanese the prime minister,” Mr Wilson said. “Albanese is a weak leader who would put Western Australia’s economy at risk. After 25 years in Federal politics, Albanese has never held a financial portfolio, he’s never held a national security portfolio, he’s never delivered a budget.” SWAN Held by: Liberal Liberal candidate: Kristy McSweeney Labor candidate: Zaneta Mascarenhas Greens candidate: Clint Uink Margin: 3.2 per cent Votes won by in 2019: 4529 The Liberal seat of Swan is seen as a weak area for the party and within Labor’s grasp with the loss of election campaign veteran Steve Irons. Sky News commentator Kristy McSweeney is set to take the reins from Mr Irons after his shock decision to pull out of the race. He has held Swan since 2007 for the Liberals and is leaving politics over a “tragic event” involving a close friend. Ms McSweeney said she promised to tackle economic security and a fair tax deal for families and small businesses. “So many families’ finances are tied to their small business, or the one they work in, and they depend on economic stability to make decisions for their family around the work-childcare balance,” she said. “Swan is also the supply chain and heavy haulage hub of Perth and our businesses keep WA moving, so supply chain issues really affect them.” Labor’s Zaneta Mascarenhas is determined to give the campaign her all. “If I am elected, I’ll be on your side, fighting passionately for families like mine here in Swan, and working tirelessly with you for a strong and fair society,” she said. MOORE Held by: Liberal Liberal candidate: Ian Goodenough Labor candidate: Tom French Greens candidate: Mark Cooper Margin: 11.6 per cent Votes won by in 2019: 20,691 Liberal MP Ian Goodenough will contest the safe seat of Moore for the fourth time at the election, after narrowly surviving a preselection challenge from Vince Connelly last September. The traditionally Liberal seat has been held mostly by the Liberals since 1990, except between the 1996 and 1998 Federal elections when the member, Paul Filing, was disendorsed by the party and was elected as an independent. Mr Goodenough said the primary concern for his division were families trying to balance their household budget and income security. “Moore is a coastal electorate with a high proportion of tradespersons, professionals, small business owners, and self-funded retirees aspiring for financial independence,” he said. “(Families) are keen to support policies, which promote economic growth and employment. I will fight for lower and fairer taxes, so local families can keep more of what they earn.” He is calling on voters to re-elect him for having “a solid track record of advocating for and delivering Federal funding for our community”, including Joondalup Hospital and major road projects. Tom French is his Labor rival and is putting job security at the forefront of his campaign, adding: “In order to plan for the future, you need a secure job with secure pay.” PERTH Held by: Labor Liberal candidate: David Dwyer Labor candidate: Patrick Gorman Greens candidate: Caroline Perks Margin: 3.2 per cent Votes won by in 2019: 8646 Accountant David Dwyer will challenge Labor’s Patrick Gorman in the race for Perth’s inner city. The electorate is regarded as a safe Labor seat, having been held by the party since the 1980s, but after redistribution, Mr Gorman’s margin has been reduced to 3.2 per cent. Mr Dwyer, a 57-year-old small business owner, said he was committed to working hard for the community. “Perth locals expect their MP to fight for the issues that matter most to them and that’s exactly what I will do,” Mr Dwyer said. “I’ve already heard many people say they want to see more support for small businesses, more job opportunities, help with the cost of living, and to feel safe on Perth streets.” Mr Gorman said the most important issue for the Perth community was “giving people opportunity for a better future with secure jobs, affordable education and quality services such as Medicare, childcare and aged care”. “A vote for me is a vote for a local dad who is passionate about education, Medicare and growing the WA economy for all and unlike the Liberal Party, my record shows I will always stand up for WA,” Mr Gorman said. “This election is a choice between someone who will stand up for Perth or an unknown Liberal who will give us another three years of Scott Morrison and his rorts, lies and chaos.” BURT Held by: Labor Liberal candidate: David Goode Labor candidate: Matt Keogh Greens candidate: Daniel Garlett Margin: 5.5 per cent Votes won by in 2019: 8788 An even safer Labor seat than Perth is Burt. It’s the newest division in WA — only created in 2015, and first contested at the 2016 Federal election. Matt Keogh became the first member of Burt and has held on to it ever since. He is now up against former Gosnells mayor and current councillor David Goode, and Greens candidate Daniel Garlett. Mr Keogh said his top priority was keeping his electorate safe during the pandemic and securing jobs. “Families in Burt are really feeling the pinch and want better job security and pay,” he said. “They want to see a return to local manufacturing for a more self-reliant nation. “I’m born and bred in the area and have been working hard to to stand up for my community to get the infrastructure and community services we need but there is still so much more to do.” Mr Goode says he has “real-life experience and understands the challenges facing our small businesses, having started my own finance-broking business after a career as a bank manager”. DURACK Held by: Liberal Liberal candidate: Melissa Price Labor candidate: Jeremiah Riley Greens candidate: Bianca McNeair Margin: 13.5 per cent Votes won by in 2019: 22,943 It was named after the pioneering Durack family, after being formed in 2010 as a comfortably safe Liberal seat. Sitting Kalgoorlie MP Barry Haase contested the seat for the Liberals and won in 2010, before Liberal candidate Melissa Price took it over in 2013. The Defence Industry Minister said she felt optimistic about Durack in 2022 with a firm focus on the future. “Like everywhere in the nation, COVID has certainly created some challenges for Durack constituents with extended family separation and the availability of workers for the resources and tourism sectors, she said. “Pleasingly, there has been some strong growth in domestic tourism and Durack’s resources industry remains the engine room of the nation’s economy while transitioning to renewable energy. “So I am focused on continued economic growth and the diversification of the Durack economy through developments like a rare earths mine in the Gascoyne and several hydrogen projects, building local business confidence out of the pandemic with a determination to focus on liveability and population growth in Durack.” First Nations candidate Jeremiah Riley is fighting for the seat for Labor. He says he has dedicated his life to making sure people have a voice at the table and ensuring people living in remote and rural areas are not left behind. FORREST Held by: Liberal Liberal candidate: Nola Marino Labor candidate: Bronwen English Greens candidate: TBC Margin: 14.6 per cent Votes won by in 2019: 26,348 Forrest is blue-blood territory. It has been in the hands of the Liberal Party for all but one term since the 1949 election. Sitting member Nola Marino has been in the big seat since 2007, and says she is “pleased to have been able to deliver a range of key infrastructure projects and improvements to services across the whole region”. “But there is still more to do, and I intend to keep working. I won’t be taking my community for granted,” she said. “The South West is the jewel in the crown of this State — boasting the largest population outside the metropolitan area, which is supported by a wide range of industries that provide employment. It is also an environmental wonder that people love to visit, so we need to make those visits safe and enjoyable.” Labor candidate Bronwen English has worked as a dental nurse, education assistant, aged carer, early childhood educator and youth worker across country WA. She says she is passionate about delivering secure jobs, quality health care and great education for her region. “I have put my hand up as the candidate for Forrest because I know that an Albanese Labor government will be the partner WA needs in Canberra,” she said after being announced as the candidate last year. “I will always stand up for regional families like mine.” The Greens candidate is expected to be announced at the end of February. TANGNEY Held by: Liberal Liberal candidate: Ben Morton Labor candidate: Sam Lim Greens candidate: Adam Abdul Razak Margin: 9.5 per cent Votes won by in 2019: 19,131 Labor is hoping to ruffle some feathers in Canberra by picking up the usually very-safe seat of Tangney, which is held by the Prime Minister’s trusted adviser Ben Morton. Mr Morton is running against Malaysia-born Sam Lim, who won the Police Officer of the Year in 2020 for his work with multicultural communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. “I want for families in Tangney the same as I want for my own family — good jobs, quality education and health care, and I know only a Labor government can deliver,” he said. Yet, the sitting MP said since being elected in 2016, his party had expanded the Willetton Basketball Stadium, opened WA’s first Indian Community Centre in Willetton, secured Federal funding to upgrade the Nicholson Road-Garden Street interchange and built the Murdoch Drive Connection. “I have a strong record working collaboratively along with the Morrison Federal and McGowan State governments to make a real difference in our community,” Mr Morton said. “The job’s not done, and our community wants a fix to the traffic congestion on Leach Highway because of the State Government not building Roe 8 & 9. “Traffic congestion in Canning Vale and on Leach Highway is my top priority. Our community knows I’ll never give up on my fight to make our roads safer for them.” The division was created in 1974 and was named after Dame Dorothy Tangney — the first female member of the Australian Senate. O’CONNOR Held by: Liberal Liberal candidate: Rick Wilson Labor candidate: Shaneane Weldon Greens candidate: Giz Watson Margin: 15.4 per cent Votes won by in 2019: 24,885 O’Connor is one of WA’s three rural seats, and one of the largest electoral constituencies in the world. The electorate has always been held by a conservative party — most recently by former farmer and Liberal member Rick Wilson. “If the people of O’Connor see fit to return me at the upcoming Federal election, I will continue to work hard to ensure these projects are completed,” Mr Wilson said in December. “In the Goldfields recently, I’ve helped secure $4.5 million funding to upgrade the Kalgoorlie-Boulder basketball stadium, $2 million to assess feasibility of the Kalgoorlie rail realignment project, $500,000 for new early learning facilities at St Joseph’s Primary School and $16.14 million to improve road safety on the Great Eastern, Goldfields and Coolgardie-Esperance highways.” He is up against Labor’s Shaneane Weldon, an Indigenous teacher, who is also the deputy president of the Shire of Laverton where she has been a councillor for the past 16 years. “Being a teacher by trade, I see education and preservation of Aboriginal languages amongst many other key community issues in our region and pride myself on being a role model within my community,” she said. “I want to ensure the younger generation of regional Western Australia all have their voices heard.” BRAND Held by: Labor Liberal candidate: Peter Hudson Labor candidate: Madeleine King Greens candidate: Heather Lonsdale Margin: 6.7 per cent Votes won by in 2019: 11,825 Brand is a working-class and safe seat for Labor. It was named after WA’s longest-serving premier Sir David Brand after being created in 1984. Since then, it has had just four sitting MPs, including former Labor leader Kim Beazley for 11 years. Madeleine King is the fourth and current MP of the electorate. She says the biggest issue facing Brand is the rising cost of living over the past eight years. “Petrol is now pushing $2 per litre, childcare costs have risen 35 per cent since the Liberals got into government, rents are higher than ever, inflation is over 3 per cent again and real wages are going backwards,” Ms King said. “I’m not sure anyone really cares if Scott Morrison knows the price of a litre of milk, but his inability to answer goes to show how out of touch he’s become with normal people.” Peter Hudson is one of the Liberal Party’s youngest candidates in the election, and is currently finishing a university degree while campaigning. His election focus is on small businesses getting the support they need during the recovery from COVID, lower and fairer taxes for local families, and more support for young people to get an apprenticeship, go to university, and get a job.