Premier visits key poll battleground

Sitting down for a quick lunch at Frederick’s Cafe yesterday, in the thick of a frantic schedule of meetings and press conferences, Premier Mark McGowan found some humour in the cut-and-thrust world of election campaigns. The Premier had met with Albany Mayor Dennis Wellington and chief executive Andrew Sharpe earlier that morning, when he was presented with an “investment portfolio” that represented a funding wish-list for the City. With the seat of Albany shaping as a key battleground after Peter Watson’s retirement, key figures within the City are excited about the bargaining power that gives them. “They said they were very, very excited by elections. So I’m glad someone is,” he said with a burst of laughter. Mr McGowan told the Advertiser he would look through that wish list to see what could be done. “Our focus is very much on job creation, so whatever fits within the job creation parameters is our main focus,” he said. Mr McGowan brought down his entire ministry on Sunday for the community Cabinet visit, the first in Albany since he was elected to the State’s top job in 2017. Before heading back to Perth late yesterday, Mr McGowan and his team spent more than 24 hours engaging with local groups and organisations to “keep in touch with the community”. On Sunday afternoon at Albany Heritage Park, the Premier handed over a $795,000 cheque to the RSLWA for 2020 Anzac Day commemorations. Mr McGowan also paid tribute to the animals who had served alongside Australian defence force personnel to coincide with National Day for War Animals. Later that afternoon, he hosted a “town hall” meeting, where residents were able to pose questions to WA’s Cabinet on issues ranging from the region’s firefighting capacity to the scourge of methamphetamine in the community. With Albany’s Town Hall undergoing major renovations, Centennial Park Stadium was chosen as the venue. During that meeting, a passenger train route from Perth to Albany was once again ruled out. Meetings were held with local business owners early on Monday before Transport Minister Rita Saffioti and Lands Minister Ben Wyatt held consecutive press conferences. Ms Saffioti, accompanied by Albany MP Peter Watson and the Premier, revealed BMD Constructions, CPB Contractor and Decmil Southern had been shortlisted in the Albany Ring Road tender process. During Mr Wyatt’s press conference at Three Anchors, he spoke about a new native seeding initiative designed to upskill Aboriginal agricultural and horticultural workers. The South Coast Natural Resource Management and Gnowangerup Aboriginal Corporation have established a not-for-profit nursery that specialises in cultivating native species for Statewide markets. From there, the entire ministry arrived at the City of Albany’s North Road council chambers, where they met with Mr Wellington and Mr Sharpe. At Albany Health Campus yesterday afternoon, Mr McGowan and Health Minister Roger Cook announced plans for a neurology service pilot program set to start next month. The 18-month trial is designed to provide a face-to-face service for local people with complex neurological conditions, such as motor neurone disease and multiple sclerosis. In the last press event of a whirlwind trip, Fisheries Minister Peter Tinley joined the Premier to launch a new report showing the economic value of salmon fishing to WA. Throughout the visit to Albany, the Government championed three key projects they were delivering in Albany: Albany Ring Road, the new Mt Lockyer Primary School and Albany Health Campus’ new radiation oncology service. With the seat on a knife’s edge heading towards the March 2021 State election, there are bound to be more visits and more announcements heading Albany’s way.