• Oxfam’s Rob Delves, Labor candidate Peter Tinley, MC Martin Drum, Social Alliance candidate Sam Wainwright and Hilton precinct powerhouse Noorel Mecklai. Photo by Steve Grant

THE Liberals will be a no-show at a Willagee state election candidates’ forum on Thursday, February 28, at the Hilton community centre.

While the other five candidates “responded immediately and enthusiastically to the invitation to participate” says co-organiser Rob Delves, Liberal Sam Piipponen insisted on a formal application being made to his party HQ for him to appear.

After several days and prompts, head office gave the green light, only for Mr Piipponen to remember, two weeks later, that he was double-booked.

“At this stage Sam Piipponen appears on the posters as ‘Invited’,” Mr Delves said. “It is hoped that he will embrace this unique opportunity to engage face-to-face with the good folk of Willagee.”

The Herald last year revealed Mr Piipponen, who’s maintained a low profile in the campaign, was fined $500 and suspended by the WA racing and gaming department over mistreatment of greyhound pups.

Mr Delves says it will be an old-style town hall affair, with candidates grilled directly by voters in the audience.

“The stranglehold of tight party control over recent elections prevents any opportunity for real face-to-face interaction, and that’s why [people] want to attend this more real type of election event,” he said.

The five confirmed candidates are Labor incumbent Peter Tinley, Sam Wainwright (Socialist Alliance), Alisha Ryans-Taylor (Greens), Teresa Van Lieshout (Ind) and Wayne Shortland (Ind).

Notre Dame University politics guy Martin Drum will chair the 90-minute forum, co-organised by the Hilton Precinct and Fremantle Oxfam.

A similar forum will be held in neighbouring Fremantle at 6.30pm on Tuesday, February 26 at Notre Dame uni, across the road from Chook HQ on Cliff Street.

by BRENDAN FOSTER