A federal Fremantle electors’ forum will be held 6pm, Monday August 26 at Notre Dame University’s Tannock Hall.

NDU politics guy Martin Drum says the “public in Freo loves a debate” and such fora have become a fixture of Freo politics at every level.

“This election should be particularly fascinating given how close 2010 was,” he says. “Labor hold just three seats in WA and desperately need to hold all these if they hope to win another term. They can’t afford to lose Fremantle.

“I expect the Liberals to poll well and for Greens preferences to be very important to the outcome.”

Dr Drum says all seven candidates have been invited. They are: Labor—Melissa Parke; Liberals—Matthew Hanssen; Greens—Jordan Steele-John; Socialist Alliance—Sam Wainwright; Australian Christian Party—Owen Mulder; Australian Protectionist Party—Teresa van Lieshout; Palmer United Australia—Vashil Sharma.

Dr Drum said he’s never hosted a debate where every candidate hasn’t turned up.

He is hoping 300-plus portisders will pack out the event, which is co-organised by the Fremantle Society, the Fremantle Chamber of Commerce, Oxfam and the Fremantle Network.

He expects asylum seekers to be the hot topic, plus “climate change, plans for Freo’s local economy and the high cost of living”.

“Maybe education funding will get a run too. The best thing about questions from the floor is that you never know what might come up.”

by BRENDAN FOSTER