Perth Voice Interactive

AT the time of the Chook’s publication the WA Electoral Commission still had not called who had won  Fremantle, where the vote count is on a nail-biting knife’s edge. 

A shock win by independent Kate Hulett would be a huge disappointment for Simone McGurk, who has held the seat for the last 12 years. 

But whatever the outcome, it should be a wake up call for the Cook Labor government, that it needs to do a lot more for our port city. 

Fremantle was a safe Labor seat for many decades, so why the huge swing against it this time?

The people of Fremantle have spoken loud and clear that we are no longer willing to be taken for granted. 

That we do not appreciate the lack of support from the state government, that prioritises Yanchep, Ellenbrook, Mandurah, Scarborough, etc. over our great port city. 

We are no longer going to accept the leftovers, crumbs and parking meter coins, when hundreds of millions of dollars are spent on Perth, that is getting an all new Cultural Centre, a totally renovated Concert Hall, plus a huge Aboriginal Cultural Centre, to name just a few.

What the Cook Labor government seems to have forgotten is that Fremantle people are fighters and activists, who will always stand up.

We are very opinionated and very dedicated. 

Fremantle has a history of strong industrial action by the Fremantle Port wharfies and holding the May Day parade.

The planned demolition of historic Victoria Hall was prevented after intervention by the Fremantle Society. 

We strongly support equality, the Indigenous and LGBTQ people, and we fight for best environmental outcomes at Ningaloo, the Kimberley and Cockburn Sound. 

We won the America’s Cup, and Dorothy Tangney was the first female senator in Australia’s parliament. 

We are the city of artists, authors, musicians and startups. 

We will not be dismissed as if we were children asking for too many Christmas presents. 

We fight for our rights and we fight for the city we love!

It is amazing that it only took Voices4Fremantle to find and independent candidate willing to nominate in Kate Hulett. 

After that is felt like a huge flashmob event that created a very high public profile for Kate, with strong financial support from Climate 200. 

Kate is articulate and a good communicator and the people of Fremantle clearly related to that.

Fremantle rightly asked why the Labor government does not want to support historic Arthur’s Head and the Roundhouse, WA’s oldest public building. 

We asked why the government made no effort to repair or replace Spare Parts Puppets Theatre at Pioneer Park, that is now in Claremont, with little chance of it returning to the port city. 

We asked why developers are not given financial incentives to build desperately-needed apartments in the CBD. 

We asked that the new police complex not be built next to Fremantle Oval, but were ignored. 

And we asked in vain for a replacement railway crossing at the Passenger Terminal.

There is also the perception, rightly or wrongly, that Simone McGurk was not active enough in the community. 

We heard very little from our local member about local issues, probably because she was very busy being a minister with demanding portfolios. 

If she holds on to the seat, she should publish a monthly report here in the Chook about what her thoughts are.

Would having Kate Hulett in parliament be better for Fremantle?

She would be a lone voice, shouting out loudly in the Labor desert, but will they bother to listen?

They don’t have to.

But ultimately Labor would want to win Fremantle back, so toward the next election they will have to make better efforts, and that might be all a shock win would achieve. 

That the Greens will hold the balance of power in the Upper House is also significant. Well done to them!

The Fremantle community was tired of begging for more support for our city, so now we are demanding it. 

It is not negotiable! Do better for Fremantle!

Roel Loopers/FREOVIEW