Who’s promised what?
Candidates vying for the seat of Bunbury this weekend cannot predict who will come out on top, with most claiming the vote is too close to call.
Labor, Liberal and the Nationals candidates are all remaining confident with the majority of other parties conceding and saying the outcome will rely on preferences.
But Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Bunbury candidate Sam Brown told the South Western Times he would “fight ‘til the very end” and believed he was in with a chance.
“I want it, I’m working hard,” Mr Brown said.
“I’m not predicting an outcome, I’m not a psychic... but the support has been overwhelming.”
In his bid to keep the Liberals in charge for another term, candidate Ian Morison said he was “feeling positive” ahead of the polls on Saturday.
“But I’m still spending all my time meeting as many people as I can and I’m getting a reasonable reception,” Mr Morison said.
“As to how it translates on Saturday, we’ll see.” Labor hopeful Don Punch said his party had run a “very positive campaign on our strong vision for Bunbury” and he was humbled by the support.
“I've had conversations with thousands of Bunbury voters and the feedback has been positive,” Mr Punch said.
“I'm confident I've left no stone unturned in listening to local concerns and I'm confident we've put the best plan forward for the electorate to consider.”
Nationals candidate James Hayward said it was hard to measure what would happen on Saturday, but he was taking “a bit of solace” in the Sports Bet odds.
Mr Hayward said his odds had gone from $26 at the start of the campaign, to $4 yesterday.
“We’ve had an excellent campaign, we’ve worked really hard and I’m confident we’ve been able to get our message out,” he said.
Greens candidate Michael Baldock said his campaign had received “some very good responses”, but conceded Bunbury was a hard-fought seat.
“Our primary objective in this election is to win the Upper House seat,” Mr Baldock said.
Shooters, Fishers and Farmers candidate Bernie Masters said the outcome was difficult to call, but was “clearly” between Labor and Liberal.
Who’s promised what for Bunbury and Collie Preston
Liberals
- $15 million to upgrade Bunbury and Newton Moore senior high schools as part of Next Generation Education Fund.
- Earmarked Lot 54 Vittoria Road, Bunbury for a $9 million 10-bed step-up step-down mental health facility.
- $5.8 million to build a new early childhood centre, four classrooms and an upgraded health centre at South Bunbury Primary School.
- $4.3 million to create a trail network of national significance along the Collie River and Ferguson Valley.
- $1 million to expand the Stirling Street Arts Centre.
- An independent Rural Fire Service to be established in Collie.
- Invest $2 million to buy land to relocate the Boyanup Saleyards.
- $100,000 over four years to Bunbury drug support group, Doors Wide Open.
- Payroll tax cuts for small and medium businesses.
- Mandatory minimum jail terms from one year to 15 years for methamphetamine dealers.
Labor
- School funding boost of $17.5 million, including $7.5 million to build eight new classrooms at Collie Senior High School and $3 million to replace transportable classrooms at Eaton Primary School.
- $12.2 million to upgrade the Collie Hospital.
- $9.1 million for step-up step-down mental health facility in Bunbury.
- $10 million towards establishing rail access to Kemerton Industrial Park in an effort to attract lithium investors.
- $8 million to build a police station in Capel.
- $4 million to improve facilities at Hay Park and $200,000 towards an accessible green at the Bunbury Bowling Club.
- $2 million to develop Eaton Bowling Club into a multi-use facility.
- $1 million to transform the Eaton Foreshore boat ramp.
- $300,000 to promote the Ferguson Valley and Wellington Forest tourism opportunities.
- $300,000 for Dalyellup Surf Lifesaving Club
- $100,000 for Bunbury drug support group, Doors Wide Open.
- Life imprisonment for the State’s worst methamphetamine dealers.
- Create a faster, no-stop train service between Perth and Bunbury.
Nationals
- Increase the special lease rental fee for mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton from 25¢ to $5 in a bid to boost the State’s Budget bottom line and raise $2 billion.
- $3 million towards a feasibility study for a high-speed rail link connecting Bunbury and Perth.
- $30 million to upgrade sporting infrastructure across Bunbury.
- A new $24 million Regional Mountain Bike Trails and Events Fund for the South West to be delivered over four years.
- $15 million to construct Boyanup Saleyards.
- Safer Bunbury Taskforce, which would include community and Local Government input, to tackle rising crime.
- $21.2 million housing commitment as part of the Withers Urban Renewal project.
- Payroll tax relief to small and medium businesses, lifting the threshold from $850,000 to $5 million.
- $50 million for extension of the Dampier to Bunbury gas pipeline to Collie.
- $6.27 million to upgrade and expand the Collie Motorplex.
Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.
Sign up for our emails