THE Greens officially launched their campaign for the state elections in Fremantle this week. 

Candidate Felicity Townsend previously ran for Willagee in 2021 and had a tilt at the federal seat of Fremantle a year later. 

Ms Townsend, who works in community development and has a background in sustainability and advocacy, says she was “really disappointed” by the state government’s “lack of action on important things” such as environment and climate action, hence why she’s decided to run again. 

“It wasn’t the plan when I decided to get more involved, it was to support other candidates, and then I ended up running as a candidate,” Ms Townsend said. 

Ms Townsend claims there is a “shift” in the electorate this election which she describes is “very exciting”. 

• Felicity Townsend (front centre) with Greens candidates (Adam Bennett (Bicton), Amy Wearne (federal Fremantle) Sophie McNeil (Upper House), Robyn Walsh (Bibra Lake) and current MLC Brad Pettitt.

 “Something that makes me feel like there’s a change happening is talking to so many people who self-identify as rusted-on Labor supporters, who are really disillusioned with the lack of action on these issues from Labor and are considering alternatives,” she said. 

“Fremantle is considered a safe Labor seat, and you can see that Labor take it for granted.”

This seems at odds to Labor’s claims that investment in Fremantle has been extensive, including the multi-million-dollar police complex, traffic bridge upgrade, and development of the Alma Street mental health precinct at Fremantle Hospital. 

However, Ms Townsend says the investment is “misplaced”. 

“That sort of money would build enough affordable housing that we would get pretty much everyone in Fremantle off the streets, a permanent home for Spare Parts Puppet Theatre or Circus WA,” Ms Townsend listed. 

“The police complex is going to cost $100 million, and moving the port down to Westport – the latest costing of which was about $7 billion – and there’s so many things that we could have instead with that sort of money allocation.”

Ms Townsend says Labor’s supermajority gained in the last election means WA’s multi-million-dollar surplus isn’t being put to good use. 

“The solutions that we see from them regarding cost of living are almost awful,” Ms Townsend said. 

“Tickets to the zoo, to the Royal Show…these might help families who can pay their rent and bills, but there are so many people struggling to pay rent and bills and these sorts of initiatives do nothing.

“Even the one-off payments don’t touch the sides.” 

• The crowd at the campaign launch.

Ms Townsend has been doorknocking and canvassing for six months, and lists a volley of issues she believes are important to the Fremantle electorate. 

“People tend to be aware of our stance on climate and the environment,” Ms Townsend said, “and we don’t want any new coal and gas projects, and we want a transition to a clean energy economy. 

“The other thing we’re really hearing about is the housing crisis, with so many people struggling to find and afford rentals, and people struggling to buy houses…WA has the worst tenancy laws in Australia. 

“We also want to protect Cockburn Sound from both AUKUS and Westport, because both of those projects will be environmentally damaging to the Sound…also, the idea that with AUKUS, having an increased US presence in our community is particularly concerning given the political landscape of what’s happening in America.” 

Ms Townsend acknowledges the presence of independent Kate Hulett “does make things interesting” for the March 8 election, but speculates that the Independent will not take support away from the Greens’ supporter base. 

“At the last federal election, [the Teal independents]* really provided an alternative to more conservative voters who were looking for integrity, climate, and female representation which was a response to the Morrison government that we had at the time,” Ms Hulett said. 

“It’s going to be interesting to see how that plays out in Freo, not being a Liberal stronghold…a Liberal candidate hasn’t been announced yet, so I guess this provides an alternative to more conservative voters.” 

Ms Townsend acknowledges the “allure” of an Independent candidate but says Ms Hulett’s specific policy “remains to be seen” to see how different it is from the Greens’ policy. 

“I guess they do appeal to people that have a disillusion with a party, but I really think that’s disillusion of the Liberal and Labor parties,” she said. 

“Our policies are developed in consultation with the community, hearing from them what the issues are, and then doing the work to develop robust policies that are evidence-based to implement that…that’s why I’m running for the Greens.

“I think that our voter base will continue to vote Greens because we have these established policies, and a broad range of policies, that go beyond climate and environment but really look to the wellbeing of our whole community.”

by KATHERINE KRAAYVANGER