Rotto revival, cost-of-living reform among major parties’ latest pitches
By Alex Condon
With less than a month until the state election, the major parties were in full campaign mode on Sunday as the incumbent Labor promised a transformation of Victoria Quay’s B Shed – including a new Rottnest Island ferry terminal and tourism hub – while the Liberals pledged extended Sunday trading and more stamp-duty exemptions.
Labor says its $30 million commitment will activate the popular Fremantle destination and also includes a new visitor centre, a berth for the STS Leeuwin II and a performing arts space.
“We’ll build a new Rotto ferry terminal in front of B Shed, boosting the capacity of Rottnest Express and Sea Link to increase their services,” Premier Roger Cook told reporters.
Roger Cook (left); and Libby Mettam on the campaign trail on Sunday.Credit: Facebook
“It’ll mean that we can provide a seamless journey to and from Rottnest which, as I said, is now becoming a world-class tourism destination.”
Cook emphasised the projects would not just benefit tourists but also the local community, including the Leeuwin Ocean Adventure Foundation’s youth programs and a performing arts space for theatre, dance and the circus.
“We know Freo has a thriving arts culture, and we want to support it and to produce, make sure that we continue to produce some of the best actors, musicians and performers right here in Fremantle,” he said.
He also took a swipe at Liberal candidates, alleging that “the Liberal Party has endorsed homophobes [Albany’s Tom Brough], ex-One Nation candidates [Perth’s Sean Butler], anti-vaxxers [Central Wheatbelt’s Lance French], dodgy builders [West Swan’s Lucky Saini]”.
He said “the Liberal Party is full of extremists” and took particular issue with Brough, citing not only his recent LGBTQI+ comments but also reports the candidate wants a review of WA’s abortion laws.
However, when asked, Cook said he respected Labor MLC Kate Doust’s views on abortion – which she herself has described as “very pro-life”.
Sunday also saw a major cost-of-living package from the Liberals that included allowing shops to open at 9am on Sundays instead of 11am, $5.2 million for OzHarvest and Foodbank WA school lunch programs and raising the stamp-duty exemption threshold from $450,000 to $550,000, as well as extending the concession threshold from $600,000 to $700,000.
Leader Libby Mettam also said there would be an increase to grandcarer payments and toy library grants, as well as saying they would slash Labor’s energy tax by 46.3¢ a day.
She said “under Labor, families have been burdened by skyrocketing household bills, worsening crime, and a failing healthcare system”.
“We know that cost-of-living pressures are making it harder for families to keep up. We will deliver targeted relief to households struggling with rising costs, ensuring families can afford necessities like food, fuel and housing.”