North West Central by-election: Candidates make their case on what voters should be prioritising

With only three days until the North West Central by-election, we asked each candidate the same question: What should voters base their vote on? Greens candidate Niels Glahn-Bertelsen If I am lucky enough to get elected, we’re going to tackle the issues that matter to the residents of North West Central — like the housing affordability crisis and the cost of living, protecting our environment and cultural heritage, and creating jobs and driving the transition to a green economy. The WA economy is booming and it’s about time the residents of North West Central get our share in the form of access to affordable and stable housing, quality health care, and well paid work in sustainable industries. Nationals candidate Merome Beard I think they should base their decision on choosing someone that they understand is passionate about the region, that understands the issues within the region and that they believe are going to be able to take some common sense to Parliament in Perth. Obviously it’s a difficult task when you’re in Opposition but the region most definitely needs someone there who is prepared to stand up and push the case because the region will be forgotten. One Nation candidate Gerald Laurent “We’ve got the guts to say what you’re thinking. With the horrendous rise in the cost of living for regional voters, the social problems caused by high levels of Indigenous underemployment in the town have made life more and more difficult for residents. The Liberal and Nationals parties have been asleep at the wheel for a long time and do not deserve your support.” Legalise Cannabis Western Australia candidate Leanne Lockyer North West Central needs a member with a focus here in the electorate, not muddied by the Statewide concerns of the major parties. That local concern that has me convinced that hemp growth across this region holds the answer to a sustainable, economically viable and environmentally friendly future for all our residents. A new agricultural industry is essential for our farmers here. Hemp locks up carbon, improves our topsoil, uses significantly less water, and creates things like clothes, fireproof houses, biodegradable plastics, and thousands of other products. Liberal Democrats candidate Jake McCoull Voters should base their votes on a core set of values and have confidence that these values will be upheld. Freedom of speech, freedom of choice and freedom of surveillance are rights that have been immorally infringed upon. To counter the rising costs of living, income tax needs to be dropped to 20 per cent and the tax-free threshold needs to be raised to $40,000 to protect the most vulnerable in our society. We need achievable energy targets with reliable and proven means of energy generation. No Mandatory Vaccination candidate Aaron Horsman I would like to draw people’s focus to the abysmal state of health and dental services in North West Central. More than 70 women have had to be transferred from Carnarvon to Geraldton and Perth to deliver babies this year, while midwives in our State are still mandated out of their jobs, as are nurses in the Carnarvon area. Dental services in Exmouth are non-existent and waitlists in Carnarvon for appointments are unacceptably long. An immediate solution is to end all mandates in the healthcare sector. Independent candidate Peter Dunne I am an independent communist. In my view, voters should carefully consider basing their vote on: workers’ control of big business in the economy - with Industrial democracy, and equalitarian (not equal) distribution of wealth. Recognition that in small business, including family farms, the boss is the boss, but the workers have a real choice. The restoration of the Court that Bob Hawke argued before as a labour lawyer working for the Unions - the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Court of Law. Greater justice including the Judges Mod-Squad of Lawyers or Judges Police and Legal Aid Mark II the full on legal aid. Drug law reform. Labour law reform including the restoration of Union Rights. Better laws, conforming to human rights, greater access to the courts for the poor, and less policing, and better police training. The latter, in line with the world’s best practice of some cops at present, means to avoid charges if at all possible. Independent candidate Tony Stokes I come from a family background of farmers from Cunderdin, I believe in the old family values of integrity, loyalty and honesty. The issues in this by-election are better health services (lack of medical staff, no maternity services in Carnarvon), law and order (the crime rate is out of control and school attendance is in the 50 per cent range), Carnarvon is the food bowl of WA, relying usually on backpackers, yet can’t get workers, and restoration of Carnarvon jetty-creating jobs. NWC seems to have been forgotten. Liberal candidate Will Baston Voters should base their vote on who will be their voice in Parliament for the issues that are relevant to North West Central. I can ask questions of the Government and keep Government accountable in the provision of health, housing and community safety. Andrea Randle and Anthony Fels from the Western Australia Party were contacted but did not respond. Peter Baker from the Small Business Party could not be contacted.