FREMANTLE’S incumbent candidate Simone McGurk has labelled the cost-of-living crisis highest on the list of voter priorities ahead of the state election in March.
Ms McGurk has served as member for Fremantle since 2013 and currently holds the Water, Industrial Relations, and Training for Workforce Development portfolios in state Cabinet.
Ms McGurk touted her 12-year stint in the seat, as well as the state government’s multi-million-dollar investment into Fremantle facilities including John Curtin High School, the new traffic bridge, police complex, and upgrades to Fremantle hospital.
“I acknowledge that there’s more to do, but I think I’m well placed to try and get some of those outcomes for people by having experience being in government and also having the right values and principles that people in Fremantle share,” Ms McGurk said.
“It’s not only about funding, it’s about the systems that support the funding, the interaction between different parts of government and not-for-profit, between individuals themselves.”
Ms McGurk says she’s been doorknocking for almost a year ahead of the election on March 8.
“There’s a whole array of issues that vary between suburbs, but it’s generally cost-of-living, how local schools are going,” she said.
“The environment also comes up a lot in Fremantle, but it varies quite a bit.”
Ms McGurk says there is “no question” that there are areas of Fremantle that need state government attention, including a lack of housing density both in the CBD and in outer suburbs, citing the Beaconsfield, Burt Street, and CBD developments proposed for the near future.
“I think we all agree there should be more people living in Fremantle which would be good for its vibrancy,” Ms McGurk said.
“The planning minister, John Carey, has worked quite hard to simplify some of the planning approval laws, which I know that can be difficult for people who want to make sure that the character and heart of Freo is kept in the community.“
Ms McGurk acknowledged the unique set of candidates she will be up against, including newly-announced independent Kate Hulett and Felicity Townsend from the Greens.
She claims that only by being in majority government and “having a seat at the table” allows for the successful Fremantle candidate to deliver for the electorate.
“I understand people’s passion for Fremantle and for those issues, but I don’t just want to talk about them, I actually want to do things.
“You can’t achieve those things from the sidelines, you actually have to be in government to move some of those levers.”
Ms McGurk also addressed Ms Hulett’s criticism of Labor on The Last Place on Earth podcast this week for “not acting like the world is on fire” in terms of the climate crisis and their tolerance with mining, oil, and gas companies such as Woodside.
“Since we’ve been in government, we’ve implemented the country’s leading plan to reduce single use plastics, we stopped logging in native forests, and we’re the only state to get out of government-owned coal-fired power stations.
“People can’t just say that’s not enough, because they are massive changes.”
Ms McGurk is yet to formally launch her campaign, but reckons people will choose a candidate based on their “policy, the details about what we’re advocating for, and our chances of achieving those things”.
“In my mind, the electorate will judge me over what I’ve done in the last four years, and whether I’ve been responsive, whether I’ve been able to fix issues that they’ve got concerns about, whether they’re large or small,” she said.
by KATHERINE KRAAYVANGER