Federal election: Liberal MP Melissa Price eyeing fifth term but says Durack race is tight
The Geraldton Guardian asked the Liberal and Labor candidates questions on various topics ahead of Saturday's Federal election.
Liberal MP Melissa Price is eyeing off a fifth term as the Durack MHR.
Q. What is your coffee order?
Flat white.
Q. What is your favourite cafe in Geraldton?
We are very lucky here in Geraldton — we have many delicious cafes, and it is hard to choose just one.
Q. What was last thing you binge-watched?
White Lotus, Season 3
Q. How many kilometres have you covered during this campaign?
Too many to count!
Q. What is the funniest thing that's happening to you campaigning this time?
People saying that the photo on my corflute is not me.
Q. What do you think of your party leader and his performance during this campaign?
Peter Dutton is a smart, strong leader. He is devoted to his family and this country and is passionate about improving the lives of Australians doing it tough. He is quick-witted and has a good sense of humour. During the campaign he has worked hard and communicated our policies well. He has been quick to admit where errors have been made, which I think is admirable and what you need in your leader.
Q. If you win a fifth term, will you run for a sixth? Do you foresee an end to your political career at some point?
Every political career will eventually come to an end. I have been working hard for the Durack community to ensure that I get to choose the end point. I am, however, not planning on a new career anytime soon.
Q. Can you draw much from the State election result, in particular the anti-Labor swing in the regions?
There are mixed reactions across Durack. In the Kimberley there is support for Labor, whereas in the Mid West and the Pilbara it has declined rapidly.
Q. What are the biggest issues affecting Durack — particularly Geraldton and the Mid West?
Cost of living is the number one concern — from rising mortgage and rent payments to soaring grocery, fuel and power bills. Housing availability is a major issue in Geraldton, with too many families and key workers struggling to find a place to live. Community safety is also front of mind, with locals rightly demanding more action on crime and antisocial behaviour. The push from our communities to reverse Labor's reckless live export ban and keep the sheep is also front of mind.
Q. Would you agree neither party has promised much exclusively for the Durack electorate this election campaign?
I disagree and I'm proud to be fighting for real, community-driven projects across Durack. We are backing upgrades to the Newman netball courts, Bindoon Mountain Bike Park, Broome Rec Centre, Kalannie hockey goals, Geraldton Tennis Centre, Carnarvon Premier Oval and the Nabawa Rec Centre. We're also boosting community safety with CCTV in Geraldton and Kununurra. These are practical, local commitments that reflect what people in Durack have asked for.
Q. How would you rate your chances and your party's chances on Saturday?
The race to win Durack is very tight. I will be fighting until 6pm on Saturday to convince the Durack voters that I should be given the honour to continue as their Federal representative. On a national level, I think it is currently neck and neck and hopefully the undecided voters will see us return to government.
Q. One word to best describe your main competition?
Enthusiastic.
Q. What's the best piece of advice you've ever received?
It is never too late to get an education. As someone who left school at 15 and went on to study law and eventually became a solicitor at the age of 32, I am convinced that anything is possible.
Q. What do you realistically hope can be achieved if you're in Opposition for another term?
That would be disappointing, however if we did end up in Opposition, I would continue to hold the Labor Government to account and fight every day to improve the lives of regional West Australians.
Q. How much has Donald Trump and US politics affected this Federal election campaign?
I don't think it has, apart from peoples' social media feeds being filled with American politics, making it harder for Australian political parties' messages to cut through.
Q. How is your party best placed to tackle the cost-of-living crisis?
We will deliver energy bill relief, lower grocery prices by taking on the big supermarkets, increase housing supply, support small businesses with tax cuts, and boost fuel security to keep prices down. We have a proven track record of strong economic management, and only the Liberals have the experience to bring inflation under control.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
Fears for 4200 Aussies stranded in war zone
More than 4000 Australians are waiting to be evacuated in Israel and Iran, with Foreign Minister Penny Wong flagging a potential small window that could allow Australian officials to move them. Plans have become more precarious after the US launched strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, with Iran vowing retaliation against America. Iran and Israel have also continued to trade strikes. On Monday morning, Senator Wong said 1300 Australians in Israel and 2900 Aussies in Iran had registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs as wanting to leave; however, evacuation attempts in Iran are more complicated. Australian officials have been stationed at the Azerbaijani border, with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trading (DFAT) releasing photos of the operation assisting Australians leave the war zone on Monday. 'Obviously, in relation to Iran, the situation is very difficult. The airspace is closed. We no longer have Australian officials in the country,' Senator Wong told Adelaide radio station FiveAA. 'We made a difficult decision to close our embassy and ask them to leave because of the risk … particularly to diplomats that we know does exist historically in Iran, in times of the unrest.' DFAT released photos of officials stationed at the Azerbaijani border who are assisting Aussies leaving Iran. DFAT Credit: Supplied While there are 'reports' the airspace over Israel may be open 'for a window today (Monday)', Senator Wong said it was a fast-moving situation. 'We have contacted people on the ground, but obviously the situation changes very quickly, and the risk is high, so we have to take that one step at a time,' she said. On Sunday, DFAT said that while the airspace remained closed, the government would be assisting bus transfers between Tele Aviv in Israel to Amman in Jordan. Although Australia's embassy in Tehran, Iran's capital, remains closed, Australia's Ambassador to Iran Ian McConville has remained in the area to support the government's response. DFAT urged 'Australians who want to leave Iran to do so now, if it is safe, otherwise shelter in place'.
Sky News AU
2 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Australia made ‘irrelevant' after US strikes on Iran: Sharma
Australia's former ambassador to Israel and Liberal senator Dave Sharma says Anthony Albanese has made Australia 'irrelevant' after the US launched strikes on Iran and the Prime Minister failed to secure a meeting with Donald Trump. Speaking to Sky on Monday, Senator Sharma said while Australia never had a 'huge' amount of influence, 'we've largely made ourselves irrelevant through this conflict'. 'I mean, look, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese didn't have a meeting with Trump where this would have obviously come up if he'd had a discussion,' he said. 'We had Richard Marles on the television yesterday calling for de-escalation at the very same time, almost, that US B-2 bombers (were) flying from Missouri (and) were striking nuclear targets in Iran.' He said Labor had 'dealt ourselves out of a traditional role' as being a contributor and 'major player' in international discussions. 'No one listens to our views seriously anymore in the on these issues, particularly in the Middle East,' he said. '(On) Israel, the relationship with this government is very bad. 'The United States, we don't yet seem to have a relationship with the new Trump administration, or at least key parts of it.' Hastie lashes 'flat-footed' Albo Acting opposition foreign affairs spokesman Andrew Hastie has accused Mr Albanese of a 'flat-footed' response to the US attack and having poor instincts on the issue. Speaking to ABC Radio National on Monday morning, Mr Hastie said he was happy to see his counterpart Penny Wong had backed in the US on the strikes however the delayed response demonstrated Mr Albanese' mismanagement. 'I'm glad we have bipartisanship on this—that the world, as she said, has agreed Iran cannot be allowed to get a nuclear weapon,' he said. 'We support action to prevent that, which is why we supported the US strikes yesterday. I think, though, what yesterday demonstrated was that the Prime Minister is flat-footed. 'His instincts aren't great on this, and he should have called an NSC meeting yesterday for an event of such significance. Instead, it's happening this morning.' Mr Hastie added the strikes 'needed to happen' in order to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. 'Iran would not come to the table, and the risk of them getting a nuclear weapon was huge, and it was a direct threat to regional stability and world peace,' he said. 'Intelligence agencies will debate when Iran planned to break out and put all the componentry together and have an actual nuclear weapon. 'But the risk was there, and that's why action was taken, and I think that's the context in which we need to see the strikes that took place yesterday.' Albo's 'deathly silence' blasted Nationals leader David Littleproud and independent Jacqui Lambie have also called on Mr Albanese to address Australia's stance on the conflict and US involvement. Mr Littleproud labelled Mr Albanese not having made a public statement as of Monday morning a 'deathly silence'. 'This was a decisive, strategic act that will make the world safer,' Mr Littleproud said. 'Now, we don't want to see a protracted conflict. And it sounds as though the United States doesn't want to be involved in a protracted Middle East conflict. 'There's no way in the world that we could get ourselves involved in that. 'We do need to be able to defend ourselves first when we've got Virgin pilots finding Chinese ships in our waters. There is an underinvestment here that needs to be rectified.' Mr Littleproud claimed the move showed the government was trying to 'sit on the fence' due to domestic politics. Senator Lambie urged against committing Australian forces that were 'not ready'. 'What I do know is that Trump said, 'You've got two weeks', and within 48 hours you took them out,' she said. 'So if there was any sort of relationship still ongoing there that is now gone, that's the first thing. 'I think the other thing is that you Americans said you weren't going back into a war in the Middle East. Well, you just went back in.' 'But what I will say is that we certainly can't back you up this time, and we don't owe you anything.' 'I say this to (Mr Albanese) – we are not fit for purpose to be involved in any war. The most that you can offer anywhere around the world right now is peacekeepers. 'Do not follow the USA into this war for 20 years – (our troops] are not ready.' 'Time for clarity': Ex-PM's call On Sunday, former prime minister Scott Morrison accused the Albanese Labor government of not showing enough 'clarity' on the Israel-Iran conflict. 'I think there's been far too much ambiguity about this from Australia, far too much ambiguity, and it's time for clarity,' Mr Morrison said. 'And the clarity is we were dealing with a theocratic authoritarian state that had sponsored an attack on close friends in Israel back on the seventh of October, and they have shown their true colours, and Iran is not a friend of Australia.' Mr Morrison echoed these sentiments while speaking to 2GB's Ben Fordham on Monday morning, saying the evening news was the time to 'ensure that response was made clear'. 'When things are as they are, Australia 'When things are as they are, Australia needs to know where it stands and its allies need to know where Australia stands. I think that's why clarity is so important,' he said. Following reports Mr Albanese would give comment after a National Security Committee meeting on Monday, Mr Morrison said it could have met earlier but hoped they would 'come out with a very strong statement in support of our allies'. More to come Originally published as Liberal senator Dave Sharma says Aus made 'irrelevant' after US strikes on Iran
Sky News AU
2 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Pauline Hanson demands visa ban, protest crackdown after US strikes
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has called on the federal government to stop offering resettlement visas to Iranian nationals and prevent further public protests in response to recent US strikes on Iran. Senator Hanson voiced strong support for the US military action, describing its strikes against Iran over the weekend as necessary for global security. 'The world is a safer place without nuclear weapons in the hands of the Islamic Republic of Iran – a radical Islamic dictatorship,' Senator Hanson said in a statement. 'Safety of Australians should remain paramount and that is why One Nation supports the strike conducted by the United States to destroy Iran's nuclear enrichment facilities.' Her comments come after US President Donald Trump confirmed the United States had carried out an attack on three nuclear sites in Iran on Sunday. The attack follows Israel launching a surprise attack targeting Iran's nuclear program on June 13, prompting the countries to trade deadly strikes. Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed the government's support for the US's action on Monday morning. 'We support action to prevent Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon. And that is what this is,' she told Nine. Senator Hanson accused the federal government of being 'weak' in response to 'terrorism against Israel', calling for an end to domestic protests and a stop to resettlement visas for Iranian citizens. Protests calling for an end to Israel's blockade of Gaza have been ongoing across Australia, with recent protests also calling for Australia to pull out of AUKUS, its defence deal with the US and the UK. 'Since the Iranian regime-backed Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on October 7 2023, Australia has faced anti-Semitic protests at the Sydney Opera House, our government-funded universities, parliamentary offices, and in our suburbs,' Senator Hanson said. 'This must not be tolerated following US strikes and I request that you work with state and territory governments to prevent these protests from recommencing, 'One Nation seeks confirmation from you and your government that you will prosecute radical Islamic preachers who inspire terrorism and hatred in Australia, 'And we seek your assurance that your government will not offer additional visas to Iranians seeking resettlement in Australia.' Protesters descended on the US consulate in Melbourne and Hyde Park in Sydney on Sunday to denounce the bombing of Iran. Students for Palestine Iranian socialist Bella Beiraghi called out the Israeli and US governments for 'recycling 20-year-old lies' about Iran's nuclear weapons program at Melbourne's rally. 'They say that Iran is a mortal threat to the region, but if you just look over the past 20 months of genocide in Gaza, you can see who the real threat to the region is; it's Israel and America,' she said. Right-wing commentator Kobie Thatcher echoed Senator Hanson's call, posting a video of the gathering on 'x', labelling them 'absolutely disgraceful scenes' and calling for 'mass deportations'. Originally published as Hanson demands visa ban, protest crackdown after US strikes on Iran
