SIMONE McGURK says Labor’s inability to sell its environmental track record played into the party almost losing the prize seat of Fremantle to an independent.
Sitting down with the Chook on Thursday, Ms McGurk acknowledged opponent Kate Hulett’s hard campaigning which saw the pair neck and neck until Ms McGurk pulled away late last week.
“I’m pleased at the result, but also reflective of the lessons I need to take away from this, and the government as well, to some extent,” Ms McGurk said.
“Credit to Kate Hulett and her campaign… it was creative and energetic, and obviously resonated with a lot of people.
Visible
“She had a very visible campaign, and it was clearly effective.”
Currently Ms McGurk is sitting 430 votes clear of Ms Hulett, with 84.7 per cent of the vote counted as of publication.
According to the ABC, there has been a 26.4 per cent swing away from Labor.
Ms McGurk says it’s “clear” that a greater focus on “climate change and the environment” is necessary following the massive swing away from Labor and Ms Hulett’s push for a total fracking ban.
“It’s clear that fracking is not popular… we’ve stopped it in 98 per cent of the state, we’ve given traditional owners and landowners a right of veto, we have not allowed any new exploration, and there is no fracking happening now.
“The challenge is that there are existing exploration licences that would have exposed WA taxpayers to compensation if we tried to just cancel those projects, so that was the issue… but it’s clear that it is unpopular
“I don’t deny that clearly people resonated with the campaign.”
Ms McGurk says she “absolutely refutes” the idea that Fremantle is a safe Labor seat or that it had been “taken for granted” by the state government, and claims her position as minister is an advantage for Fremantle.
“I don’t think there has been anything since I have been the member for Fremantle that demonstrates that I think that, or that Labor thinks that,” Ms McGurk said.
“It can sound a little cliche to say but I’ve always worked hard… I think it’s important to have the member for Fremantle around the ministerial table in any portfolio but also to have a voice at a senior level in government.
“Of course, that’s going to be more effective than anything else, certainly being in opposition or being an independent as a sole voice in parliament… I’ve argued that, and it’s clear that the majority of people think that’s the case as well.”
Ms McGurk was this week sworn in as Minister for Creative Industries, Women, Heritage, Industrial Relations, and Aged Care and Seniors as part of Roger Cook’s cabinet.
She lost the environmentally sensitive portfolio of water in the new cabinet.
“I’m really keen to get stuck into the portfolios, and also to show people that I don’t take this seat for granted,” Ms McGurk said.
“There’s still more to do, and it will take a lot of advocacy on my part to get the right outcomes.”
by KATHERINE KRAAYVANGER