Nationals WA to put their Albany candidacy to a popular vote in historic search for a people’s champion

Party members and delegates will be brushed aside by the Nationals WA in a historic move to decide who runs on their ticket in a marginal seat at the 2021 State Election. Nationals WA leader Mia Davies will today announce her party is adopting a “community preselection” process to decide their candidate for the seat of Albany. It is believed to be a first in WA’s political history. In scenes reminiscent of the UK’s Boaty McBoatface debacle, the party will throw out political norms and put the candidacy to a popular vote. In 2016, the British Natural Environment Research Council ran a public vote to name its new $270 million research vessel, with Boaty McBoatface famously emerging as a clear winner. Veteran Labor MP and speaker of the Legislative Assembly Peter Watson will step down from the seat which he has held since 2001. Mr Watson was the first Labor candidate to win the seat since one-term representative Wyndham Cook in 1971. From tomorrow until July 17, Nationals WA candidate nominations will be open to anyone on the electoral roll in the seat of Albany. Early voting will start on August 22 with “polling day” taking place on August 29 after two months of campaigning by the shortlisted community nominees. Similar to the primaries candidate selection process in the US, the Nationals WA will go a step further to “empower” voters by opening nominations and polling to the entire electorate — not just party members. Whoever receives the most votes will secure the nomination. Ms Davies said she was “not afraid” to put pre-selection in the hands of voters. “We’re asking the people of Albany to tap someone on the shoulder and say, ‘We think you’d be a great member of Parliament’,” Ms Davies said. Ms Davies suggested Albany was an ideal electorate for the unconventional selection method, with the retirement of Mr Watson setting up a fiercely contested three-way race against Labor and the Liberals. “It’s a first for the party and I understand for WA as a whole,” she said. Nationals WA South West MLC Colin Holt, who represents Albany in the Upper House, said he was confident the process would yield a quality field of candidates. “A community preselection will put the focus on Albany and highlight what those people aspiring to be an MP can bring to the table,” Mr Holt said. “It’s a simple question: ‘Who do you want to be your voice Albany?’ It’s your choice.” The party has set up a website for those wanting information about the community preselection or how to nominate — www.albanyvotes.com. On a two-party-preferred basis, Mr Watson secured 55.1 pre cent of the vote in 2017, seeing off Nationals’ candidate and City of Albany councillor Robert Sutton. Cr Sutton’s fellow councillor Rebecca Stephens will replace Mr Watson as the McGowan Government’s candidate for the Great Southern’s marquee electorate. Scott Leary, the financial director of a major Albany employer — Albany City Motors — has been put forward by the Liberal Party.