Greens stalwart Giz Watson throws hat in the ring for seat of O’Connor as Rick Wilson fights for fourth term

Former Greens WA leader Giz Watson will contest the seat of O’Connor at the 2022 Federal election as fellow Albany resident Liberal MP Rick Wilson sets his sights on a fourth term. Though a date for the Federal election has not been set, the Morrison Government last month confirmed it would hold a Budget in March and an election day must be held before May 21. Wangkatja/Ngaantjarra woman and Shire of Laverton deputy president Shaneane Weldon will contest the seat for Labor. Ms Weldon, a trained educator, has represented her community on the Laverton council for 16 years and sits on the board of several not-for-profit organisations and native title bodies. Determined to ensure “the younger generation of regional Western Australia have their voices heard”, she has cited education and preservation of culture as key issues in her electorate. The Nationals WA are yet to announce a candidate. After serving as the Greens WA member for the Northern Metropolitan Region in WA’s Legislative Council from 1997 to 2013, Ms Watson first ran for the seat of O’Connor at the 2016 Federal Election. A lifelong advocate for the environment and social justice, Ms Watson was the first openly lesbian parliamentarian in Australia and helped drive lesbian and gay law reform in WA. Ms Watson said with a need for urgent action on the climate crisis and First Nations WA Greens Senator Dorinda Cox leading the charge, the time was right to contest O’Connor. “We know there is a really urgent need to take action, whether that is globally but also in O’Connor,” she said. “And in that context, to hold the sitting member Rick Wilson to account for having been very lukewarm on responding to climate along with his government.” Ms Watson said despite the community’s efforts to transition to a renewable economy and sustainable industry practices across the vast O’Connor electorate the Federal Government had been “shamefully absent”. “I’m really adamant about being the voice for the change that needs to happen because you are not going to get it from the other parties,” she said. “The world is responding and if we don’t respond as well we will also get left out, and that is a risk for the local economy as well as anywhere else.” As well as championing sustainable farming practices and environmental initiatives in the Albany region, Ms Watson said she would be pushing to address Albany’s housing crisis and gaps in social services, including disability and mental health support. Ms Watson urged electors to “vote for the future of your grandchildren”. “I am very well aware O’Connor is historically a safe conservative seat but things change and I am certainly hearing a lot of frustration and disappointment with Rick Wilson as a representative and that he needs to be held to account for that,” she said. After being elected to the seat of O’Connor in 2013, Mr Wilson is seeking re-election for a fourth term. Mr Wilson has advocated for several major projects within Albany, including the Albany Ring Road, Albany Motorsport Park, Middleton Beach foreshore enhancement, Youth Challenge Park, radiation oncology service and road improvements. Last month in Federal Parliament, he urged the WA Government to provide operational funding for a crisis accommodation centre for woman and children escaping violence in Albany. “As an Albany resident, I am proud to be part of the Federal Morrison Government that is standing by the city’s people as we emerge from the pandemic,” he said. “The south coast is brimming with natural attractions, and it is my priority to see Albany develop critical mass so it can become the best coastal city in Australia in which to live. “If the people of O’Connor see fit to return me at the upcoming Federal election, I will work hard to ensure these and other important projects are completed, and that in 2026 Albany is in prime position to be celebrated as the first place in WA where European and Indigenous people learnt to live together.”