WA Premier Roger Cook spruiks Made in WA jobs plan and shakes Tom Brough’s hand at Albany pre-poll station

Premier Roger Cook was in Albany on Wednesday to make a final plea to voters in the contested seat, visiting a local boat manufacturer to promote his Made in WA jobs plan and shaking hands with controversial Liberal candidate Tom Brough outside the pre-polling station. It was the Premier’s fourth visit to the port-side city for the election campaign, where incumbent Albany MLA Rebecca Stephens is pitted against Dr Brough in a heated contest. Speaking at Westerberg Marine boat manufacturers, Mr Cook said the business was an example of how his Government would put manufacturing “back at the heart of our Western Australian economy”. “It’s all part of our mission for Albany, making sure that we’re continuing to grow the community here, great local jobs, terrific social infrastructure, and continue to make Albany a great place to live,” he said. He went on to tout WA as the nation’s best-performing economy with 343,000 jobs created since 2017. “To build on this success, we want to help local businesses seize on Albany’s unique advantages and become part of a thriving local manufacturing hub,” he said. Mr Cook used the opportunity to back in Ms Stephens and take another stab at her Liberal opponent. “Albany needs a strong voice in my WA team, and Rebecca Stephens is that strong voice for the people of Albany,” he said. “Bec has been out every single day, fighting for this community, talking to the community and doing what’s right for Albany. “The Liberals have treated Albany with contempt. We know that they’ve pre-selected a candidate that even the Liberal leader described as bizarre. “They’ve hidden this candidate from scrutiny, hidden from accountability, because they know their candidate doesn’t pass muster.” When asked about the vandalism and removal of campaign signage, Mr Cook urged people to be courteous. “Our democratic process is a very important part of our community, so I urge all campaign teams, all candidates, all booth workers, be civil,” he said. “Enjoy the interaction, enjoy the competition, but make sure that you’re courteous to each other and don’t do anything which is unacceptable.” His comments come a day after he called US vice-president J.D. Vance a “knob” at The West Australian’s Leadership Matters event, but Mr Cook put his words into action when he visited Albany’s early-polling booth at Dog Rock Boulevarde and met Dr Brough in person. The pair shook hands in a brief exchange with Mr Cook also greeting Australian Christians’ candidate Gerrit Ballast, Greens’ Legislative Council candidate Diane Evers, and the Greens’ Lynn MacLaren who handed him a pamphlet about the protection of Yakamia Forest. One voter was stunned to see Mr Cook who urged her to vote for WA Labor candidate Rebecca Stephens while another told him he was the “best (Premier) in the country” and wished him “good luck” at the election. The Premier was seen snapping a selfie in front of the iconic Dog Rock as he left the venue.

WA Premier Roger Cook spruiks Made in WA jobs plan and shakes Tom Brough’s hand at Albany pre-poll station

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