Liberal candidate admits party is unlikely to win but insists seat of Roe remains vital for strong opposition

The State election is only two days away, and with Mark McGowan’s Labor Party seen as a shoo-in, candidates for the seat of Roe remain divided over how best to campaign ahead of a seemingly foregone conclusion. The seat of Roe was abolished ahead of the 2008 State election, when sitting Liberal MP Graham Jacobs contested and won the seat of Eyre. Roe was recreated for the 2017 State election, taking in the abolished seats of Eyre and Wagin. Mr Jacobs ran for Roe in 2017, but he left politics after he was soundly beaten by Nationals WA candidate Peter Rundle, who earned 42.5 per cent of the vote. Mr Jacobs earned 23.9 per cent of the primary vote, while Labor’s Brad Willis was third with 14.2 per cent as his party won government. As West Australians prepare to head to the polls on Saturday, Liberal candidate for Roe David Dwyer admitted it was unlikely his party would win. Therefore, he said, instead of pushing pledges for the region, he was urging voters to see the need for a strong opposition. “I’m the only candidate who is more likely to hold Labor to account because I will be effective in opposition,” Mr Dwyer said. “That is a clear distinction between me and all of the other candidates, as I am the stronger person to have in opposition, “If I am elected to Parliament I will approach all non-Labor MPs in both houses to present a proposal for a coalition of opposition to Labor, with an invitation that they join with us to fight Labor.” Mr Dwyer said the Nationals WA had no authority to make election promises, as only Labor and Liberal strove to form government. “The National Party does not stand candidates in every seat and therefore can only form government in partnership with either the Labor Party or the Liberal Party,” he said. “It would be far better if the Liberal and National parties had formed a coalition agreement 12 months prior to an election so they could present to the public as unified, with policies developed on a joint basis and therefore able to fight Labor more effectively. “Therefore any promise by the Nationals Party is conditional on successful negotiations with the Liberal Party after an election.” However, Nationals WA candidate and Roe incumbent Peter Rundle said he “certainly rejects” Mr Dwyer’s view on pledges and how best to campaign against the might of Mr McGowan’s Labor. “As far as I am concerned we work towards a scenario where we form government,” Mr Rundle said. “It is important to outline our party policies so our regional constituents can see our platform. We always have to be optimistic and have to work towards forming government. “Our attitude is how we got Royalties for Regions into government policy.” Mr Rundle said Nationals WA policies reflected the conversations he had with his constituents. “Mental health, mobile reception and technology, critical housing, safe roads, and water are constant issues raised,” he said. Labor candidate Brad Willis said a vote for him was a vote for a great regional presence of the McGowan Government. “If I am elected into government I will be able to deliver our commitments and much more for the workers of Roe, and I will work with Mark McGowan to keep WA strong,” he said. “It’s time for change in the region. We have managed the State affairs really well and it’s time to give us a go in regional WA,” he said. Mr Willis said he had worked closely with regional clubs and community organisations to create election promises that would benefit the people of his electorate.