Federal candidates set for election

Federal Member for O’Connor Rick Wilson MP was a self-employed farmer for 23 years from 1990 to 2013 before being elected to the House of Representatives for O’Connor. 

Mr Wilson, once again contesting for the farming and mining seat in 2016, said his campaign hopes to highlight the work of the Liberal Party in the electorate over the past three years.

“I believe we have spent a long time working hard to win the confidence of the people of O’Connor,” he said. 

Mr Wilson said his campaign has focused on issues including aged care, the free trade agreement, the backpacker tax, the mining industry, the mining equalisation tax and the National Broadband Network. 

Mr Wilson and Resources Minister Josh Frydenberg MP recently met with the Shire of Collie, discussing the town’s coal industry and employment opportunities. 

Mr Wilson said, if re-elected, the Liberal Party would provide benefits to everyone throughout the electorate. 

“We will provide aged care services, services so students can get better education, good jobs as well as improved regional communications – all very important to families across O’Connor,” he said.

The Australian Labor Party candidate and Denmark local Jon Ford said he aimed to reach out to everyone throughout the electorate.

“You have to work at democracy, its a hard job, so I have a strong view that you always have to put up a number of candidates, even in seats regarded as safe conservative seats like O’Connor,” he said. 

Mr Ford recently completed a tour around the electorate on his motorbike, visiting centres including Albany, Esperance, Kalgoorlie, Manjimup, Collie and the central Wheatbelt.

He said his campaign has focused on communications, drug and mental health services, healthcare, education, renewable energy and the Royal Commission into financial institutions. 

Mr Ford said candidate forums and talking to people on the street were essential for discussing the major issues of any electorate. 

“If I get elected I will be one of the 150 people in seats, so you have to be experienced and tenacious in being an advocate,” he said. 

Mr Ford said towns throughout O’Connor including Collie are essential for providing renewable energy outlets. 

“When I think of Collie I think of an area that has strong energy availability, good transport into a port etc. and we must be able to put in a lot of high energy required industries,” he said.

The Greens WA candidate Giz Watson was selected by a process of consensus for the position in this year’s election.

Ms Watson said the Greens WA’s campaign has included actions such as the rapid transition to renewable energy sources and 100 per cent renewables by 2030, a fairer tax system and new approaches to people seeking asylum. 

She said the party has also committed to education, housing and health services for all Australians, seeking to remove the political influence of large donations to political parties.

Ms Watson said the Greens’ campaign was committed to providing renewable energy avenues for sites across O’Connor. 

“O’Connor has a range of diverse communities. I bring sixteen years of experience as a Member of State Parliament and will do all I can to represent that diversity,” she said.

“The Collie community is facing significant challenges with the uncertainties around coal mining.

“The Greens would like to work with the community to create a transition to make Collie a centre for renewable energy production.”

Nationals candidate for O’Connor John Hassell has vowed to support Collie’s industry and economic impact in the electorate.

The Pingelly grain farmer and CHB Group Board director won the pre-selection for the WA Nationals last month, pledging as an independent. 

Mr Hassell’s campaign has included a six-point plan targeted at fair Goods and Services Tax returns, the backpacker tax, regional infrastructure and services, incentives for local workforces over Fly In, Fly Out employees, regional telecommunications, the agricultural sector and funds for state health, education and tourism. 

He said the campaign has focused on O’Connor’s most crucial issues to support the needs of everyone in his electorate. 

“In the National Party, you can cross the floor if it’s in the best interest of the electorate and when it's good policy and that’s what I intend to do,” he said. 

Mr Hassell said he vowed to support Collie’s energy generation and economic development. 

“I think there are mitigation strategies in regards to atmospheric emissions, and I think we can develop those a lot better, but I don’t think we want to throw out industries that we’ve got going now because if we do that we’d be cutting our noses off to spite our face,” he said.

“I think getting people to understand that I’m out to try a get a fair deal is a crucial thing, and Collie is an important part of WA just like anywhere else.”

Australian Christians candidate and state president Trevor Young previously ran in the 2010 senate election and for the party in the 2013 state election. 

Mr Young said he has travelled across the electorate to areas including Mount Barker, Albany and Narrogin throughout this year’s campaign.

He said the Australian Christians have stood for the current model of marriage and family in this election. 

“We see three very important things – one is the enhancement of the current model of marriage,” he said.

“Two, what flows from that is the importance of family because strong marriage creates strong family creates strong community which leads to a healthy society.

“The other one is there is a huge risk is our Australia society to our freedom of expression and freedom of belief.”

 Mr Young said, if elected, he would work towards building the sense of community in O’Connor and ensure a change in government spending. 

Rise Up Australia Party candidate Stephen Carson said his campaign is pushing for votes in the lower and upper houses, vying for a place in the senate. 

Mr Carson said the Rise Up Australia Party has campaigned for requirements for immigration policies and limiting and reducing foreign ownership of Australian assets. 

He said the campaign also hopes to address issues from reducing taxation to providing opportunities for local farmers and manufacturers to operate and compete with imports.  

Mr Carson said the campaign has vowed to “Keep Australia Australian” and return public service to the people of O’Connor. 

“We seem to be going the way of corporatisation, every government department is now a corporation with an ABN,” he said. 

“I would like to see that there is no carbon tax and would like to see government departments move back out into the rural communities.

“I think for Collie or any other town the reversal would be good because if you take out public servants it puts pressure on the population of the city.”

Facts about the O’Connor electorate and the 2016 federal election

The full list of candidates for the 2016 federal election is available on the Australian Electoral Commission website at www.aec.gov.au