[BONUS] NorthWest Central by-election on TripleM
Channel: loomhigh
Date: 2022-09-28

Two major candidates have thrown their hat in the ring for the North West Central by-election occurring on the 17th (on the same day I will be at the Northampton show btw so see me there!) I thought I would quickly look into this election before it went off, mainly because the boys Mitchell and Michael from TripleM asked me about it. Just a forewarning: This is a brief analysis of the election, do not expect too much hardcore number crunching. I will however do my best to give a broad recount of my understanding.

Liberal candidate Will Baston, 36 year old runner of Jimba Jimba station on Gascoyne River, and qualified Urban and Regional Planner, is Running against Nationals Mother of four and Pub Owner Merome Beard.

Most articles like WA today, a fantastic and free (if you know how to use incognito mod on your browser) resource, gave an effective run down on the candidates and the broad policies they wish to advocate for, but there is very little analysis on whether these issues will be better served with Baston or Merome. It is common knowledge that what a politician says and does is not exactly a true match. So lets go through both candidates platforms, starting with Baston for the Liberals.

Will Bastion's Platform
Baston's stated platforms include easing cost of living pressures, ensuring regional representation, better healthcare for locals, and tackling youth crime via community engagement. the Midwest Times quotes him as saying: "With your support, I will fight for increased regional health services, more local community engagement to stop youth crime, and to reduce the cost of living and end the housing shortage across the region."
Merome Beard
That is the Liberal candidate covered. Let us look at Nationals candidate Merome Beard, who is replacing Vince Catania and according to WA today has a priority of payroll tax, worker shortages, and housing. She is quoted as saying “Access to housing and accommodation should be a priority, as should basic health services like being able to have a baby locally, but these issues have been ignored by the Labor government and they shouldn’t be rewarded for this neglect,”

Conclusion
This is the conclusion. If you asked me who to vote for I would put it this way: 1. Labor (if they were running), 2. Liberal, 3. Nationals. Reasons put: In my experience living in the North West under a Labor candidate I have seen immense amounts of personal effort being done to improve the conditions of the Pilbara, including actual implementation of the solutions the candidates here appear to say need doing. If we look at public housing being built in Geraldton, or hospitals being built in Newman, we can see the practical, real effects a Labor government has on regional areas that have not seen that level of action for years. The reason I put the Liberals over the Nationals in this electorate is simply because of the counterintuitive nature of Beards proclaimed policy positions. Arguing for reduced payroll taxes while simultaneously demanding more funding for healthcare does not feel to me to be as constructive on the outset as Baston who simply wishes to argue on issues of regional funding and representation.
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