Shire of Waroona to oppose planned move of residents to Forrest electorate in Federal redistribution

The Shire of Waroona has revealed it will be opposing plans to shift its residents to another Federal electorate as part of a planned redistribution. The Australian Electoral Commission revealed earlier this month it plans to move the council from the Peel-focused Canning electorate to the South West-based Forrest electorate as part of changes being made as the State gains an extra seat in Federal Parliament. Shire president Mike Walmsley said the council planned to appeal the change because the shire had the strongest relationships with the Peel region. “Given our relationship with the Peel area and we have been pretty pleased with our representation over the last few years and we would be happy to stay where we are,” he said. “It is nice to have one Federal member who was across all our issues.” The Shire of Waroona is represented by Canning MHR Andrew Hastie, while Forrest will have a new Federal member following the next election after long-serving MHR Nola Marino announced her retirement earlier this year. Cr Walmsley said the uncertainly of who will be representing the region in future also made the shire apprehensive of the shift. “We’ve got a good relationship with our Federal member, and I’m not saying we won’t form one with our new member, but I just think we’d be happy to stay where we are,” he said. A similar proposal was suggested by the AEC in 2021, before the council successfully argued against the change. Cr Walmsley said the shire would put forth a similar case to remain in Canning as it did then. “Being part of the Peel is where we see ourselves, not necessarily part of the South West,” he said. “We’re trying to get our head around why they would push Donnybrook out to O’Connor and pull us down to Forrest, we think there’s a better way to juggle it.” Cr Walmsley said he feared the shire would suffer if forced to compete with bigger councils in the South West. “We’re a pretty small fish in a big pond down there,” he said. “Even though there’s growth in the Peel region, we’d be lumped in with Bunbury, Busselton and Margaret River, which are much bigger centres. “And it’s a fact of life, funding goes to the bigger cause.” Those wanting to opposed the changes have until 6pm on Friday to make a submission.

Shire of Waroona to oppose planned move of residents to Forrest electorate in Federal redistribution

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