Anthony Albanese slams Perth ‘meth zombies’ slur

Labor leader Anthony Albanese has taken aim at the WA opposition chief, who said families no longer feel safe in Perth because of ‘meth zombies walking around’.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese has criticised West Australian opposition chief Liza Harvey, who said Perth families no longer feel safe in the city because of “meth zombies walking around”.

The new state opposition leader made the comments in a scathing attack on City of Perth council, saying Perth’s homeless crisis is the worst she’s seen.

Labor Leader Anthony Albanese spoke in Perth’s Hay Street Mall today. Picture: AAP

After a visit to the CBD on the weekend she told radio 6PR the city was “grotty and dirty”.

“I was shopping with my partner in the city over the weekend every second shop, every third shop was vacant and there’s a homeless person sleeping in the door way,” she said.

“There’s more homeless people than I’ve ever seen in Perth, and in 2019 that’s just unacceptable.”

WA Liberal leader Liza Harvey has taken aim at Perth’s homelessness issue and struggling retail sector. Picture: The Australian

Ms Harvey called for a taskforce to fix WA’s homelessness issue and discussed ways to revive Perth’s depressed retail sector. She told The West Australian: “It’s hard to encourage the precinct for families when there are all these meth zombies walking around.”

“Think what you like about (former Lord Mayor) Lisa Scaffidi, but she ran a good operation, at least the streets were clean.

“Now it’s so grotty and dirty and full of people who act in unpredictable ways.”

The safety of Perth’s CBD has been raised by WA’s new Liberal leader. Picture: News Corp Australia

While announcing plans to visit WA at least 10 times a year in the lead up to the 2022 federal election, Mr Albanese took aim at Ms Harvey’s comments.

“I’ll be talking up Perth and WA. It’s a pity that the WA opposition leader seems to think its appropriate to talk Perth and WA down,” he told reporters today.

But he refused to be drawn on whether the Labor state government should help fund rehabilitation centres like Shalom House in the Swan Valley, which claims to be the nation’s strictest and faces closure.

Three of Shalom House’s four leased properties are for sale because the owner is experiencing financial difficulties, while the owner of the fourth has asked the private and self-funded centre, which is based on Christian principles, to vacate by January.

“I’m answering questions about federal issues,” Mr Albanese said, despite raising Ms Harvey’s comments.

WA Treasurer Ben Wyatt also weighed in on the controversy, tweeting: “For what it’s worth, I am perfectly relaxed taking my two daughters into the Perth CBD. We do so regularly, and have fun doing so.”