WA election: Pauline Hanson, polls and taxes dominate campaign trail
Updated
Micro-parties and preferences dominated discussion on the WA election campaign on Wednesday, with Pauline Hanson wading into the preference deal debate, as more poll woes emerged for the Government, and Labor was forced to deny it had a renewable energy target.
Here's a quick catch-up on the day's events:
Government poll woes
The Opposition has led in every major public poll for many months and another poll story out today suggested the Government was in trouble.
Despite reports of leaked internal polling suggesting a swing against the Government of 14 per cent, Mr McGowan insisted Labor had an uphill battle to win the election.
"Labor is the underdogs, we have to win an additional 10 seats and it is a huge task," Mr McGowan said.
Premier Colin Barnett insisted the polling did not reflect the true picture, saying he was getting good feedback from MPs and candidates.
Hanson hits back
Pauline Hanson lashed out at WA candidates upset about One Nation's preference deal with the Liberals.
In an interview with 7.30, Senator Hanson said any candidate who had a problem with the deal should quit the party and run as an independent.
"They are under a banner, the banner is Pauline Hanson's One Nation," she said.
"Now, I have to make the decisions, I am leader of this party. If they're not happy with it, everyone has a choice, don't stand under my name."
Renewable target denial
Labor faced Government accusations it plans to introduce a state-based renewable energy target of 50 per cent, which the Liberals claim will drive up power prices for consumers.
Labor's party platform, adopted in 2015, calls for the WA Government to establish and work towards renewable energy targets.
But Opposition Leader Mark McGowan invoked the words of Julia Gillard's famous 2010 carbon tax declaration to insist that would not happen.
"There will be no renewable energy target, at a state level, under any government I lead," Mr McGowan said.
Fiscal lines in the sand
Mr Barnett and Treasurer Mike Nahan were drawing clear battlelines for the Liberals on the economy.
Despite delivering record debts and deficits, the Liberals appear determined to pitch their economic management credentials against WA Labor.
After promising to lift the payroll and land tax thresholds, Dr Nahan was keen to defend the estimated $79 million in lost revenue over three years that would result.
Dr Nahan said the combined cost of the Liberals' payroll tax and land tax changes was less than the annual taxpayer subsidy which would be required to run Labor's promised rail line to Ellenbrook.
Topics: elections, political-parties, wa
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