North West Central by-election: Party leaders explain why NWC rivalry won’t affect Nationals/Liberals alliance

Without a Labor candidate, the Nationals and Liberals have faced the awkward task of campaigning for the North West Central by-election against a main rival that is usually their alliance partner. Both the National and Liberal parties share a similar message heading into Saturday’s poll — of holding a “city-centric” Labor Government accountable and supporting regional WA. Liberal Party deputy leader Libby Mettam said the Liberals were pushing for the community to vote for Will Baston to send the Labor Government a message. “Their performance has not been good enough, particularly when it comes to this important seat,” she said. “Will has a very positive, local plan for the future which is about bringing back local health services, addressing local crime, dealing with local housing shortages and reducing the cost of living pressures as well.” Ms Mettam said she observed Mr Baston listening and engaging with the community and he carried a lot of energy and drive for the role. “I have been doing some travel with him across the North West Central electorate and he has been very well received as someone who works in the area as a pastoralist and who is well connected with the local community,” he said. “It is extraordinary given how Labor polled last time in this seat that they are not running a candidate, but I think in many respects it reflects their performance, particularly the delivery of services in this seat.” Labor only lost North West Central by 259 votes at the 2021 election, but decided to sit out this by-election, triggered by the resignation of Nationals MP Vince Catania, because incumbent governments don’t usually fare well in by-elections. Ms Mettam said regardless of the by-election outcome, the Liberals and Nationals remained partners in an alliance and would continue working together. “The National Party are our alliance partners and that constructive relationship will certainly continue regardless of Saturday’s result,” she said. Ms Mettam confirmed the two parties had negotiated to swap their preferential votes. Deputy opposition leader and Nationals Moore MP Shane Love said voters in the electorate should be confident that Merome Beard would fight for the community and she understood local challenges. “The region continues to face multiple crises in health, housing, and crime yet these communities continue to be ignored by the McGowan Government — it is a slap in the face to locals that the Labor Party didn’t even bother putting up a candidate,” he said. “Throughout the by-election campaign, our job as the Opposition has not changed and the alliance remains focused on holding the McGowan Labor Government to account.” Opposition Leader Mia Davies echoed that Ms Beard, a Carnarvon publican and Mr Catania’s former staffer, was the right person for the seat, and the Nationals were proud of their history in delivering for the electorate. “(Ms Beard) has the skills and grit to enter a Parliament ruled by an arrogant premier and his enormous backbench. She’s backed by a party that exists to represent regional communities in the Parliament. We understand the issues of the region because we live and breathe them,” she said.