WA Opposition campaigns on federal issues ahead of state election
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The West Australian Opposition is trying to link federal issues to the state election campaign by criticising Premier Colin Barnett's ability to fight for a greater share of the GST and a faster rollout of the National Broadband Network.
Opposition Leader Mark McGowan also revealed today he had appointed Upper House candidate and former state and federal MP Alannah MacTiernan as his spokesperson on state-federal matters.
But he denied it was a stepping stone for Ms MacTiernan into any future potential McGowan cabinet, even though she indicated she did covet a position on the front bench.
Mr Barnett has long pushed for WA to receive a higher share of the GST.
But Mr McGowan claimed Mr Barnett had raised the white flag on the issue, as well as on the NBN and on obtaining a greater proportion of defence spending in WA.
"People need to understand if you have Colin Barnett back and you had [Prime Minister] Malcolm Turnbull in power nationally, you have two Liberals who won't do the right thing by the state, because Mr Barnett will not stand up and won't get a better deal out of the federal Liberal party," he said.
"Labor has the record there for a better deal for Western Australia," he said.
"We come to those issues not being in the pocket of Malcolm Turnbull and the federal Liberals, unlike Colin Barnett."
Deputy Premier Liza Harvey said the people of WA knew they would be voting on state issues.
Asked if the unpopularity of the Federal Government would impact on the state Liberals' elections chances, she said that was not necessarily the case.
"I believe that the community are smart," Mrs Harvey said.
"I believe that they will vote, they understand the distinction between state and federal politics.
"They'll make a decision as to whether they want a Colin Barnett-led Liberal government or a Mark McGowan-led Labor government."
Topics: state-parliament, elections, perth-6000
