Perth Voice Interactive

Perth Liberal candidate Darryl Moore says he has no regrets about entering public life.

The former petroleum engineer and landlord has adopted a cautious strategy with the media after claiming his views on equal marriage were misrepresented by both the West Australian and the Voice.

He now communicates with the Voice through Liberal media minder Joey Armenti.

“It has been a good experience and I genuinely believe locals deserve better than what Labor has to offer them,” Mr Moore says.

“I have spent a lot of my time meeting thousands of people in the eastern part of the electorate which has been overlooked and ignored for many years.”

But Notre Dame political analyst Martin Drum says the Liberal campaign has suffered from “several blunders”, “including telling a constituent not to broadcast his views on same sex marriage, and his reluctance to engage with the media”.

“This week we have now seen some other comments he has made in the past come back to bite him.

“I’d expect the seat of Perth to be the one and probably only seat in WA to see a swing towards the Labor party this election.”

While Julia Gillard was PM and Stephen Smith the incumbent, the Liberals held high hopes of taking the seat, particularly given the Liberals’ stunning 10 per cent swing in the area for the state election. With Kevin Rudd back as PM and Mr Smith retiring to make way for Alannah MacTiernan, few now rate Mr Moore as a serious chance.

Mr Moore—in comments filtered through Mr Armenti—says he is not intimidated by his high-profile opponent.

“Regardless of whose name and face is on the poster, a vote for Labor is a vote to keep the current chaotic and dysfunctional government in place,” he says. 

“With WA having suffered so much at the hands of the Labor government I hope that people understands that to change the government we need to send as many Liberals to Canberra as possible.”

by STEPHEN POLLOCK