Lib challenger courts controversy

Incumbent WA Liberal MP Melissa Price has been challenged for preselection in her seat of Durack, ahead of this year’s Federal election.

Controversial public affairs analyst and Perth-based geologist David Archibald has put his hand up to challenge the sitting member.

Mr Archibald has worked in oil exploration, stock analysis and on the advisory panel of the Australian Climate Science Coalition.

On his website, David Archibald’s Durack Development, the geologist outlined plans and proposals for the electorate.

These include adding ferrous sulphate to Shark Bay waters to increase fish yields, extending the gas pipeline that runs from Geraldton to Mt Magnet to Leinster to provide further supply security, and upgrading roads to the Bungle Bungles to increase tourism in the Kimberley.

Over the years, Mr Archibald has left a trail of controversy, both in scientific journals and opinion articles.

Most notably, he has published several papers on the solar influence on climate, claiming the world is actually cooling and the effect of carbon dioxide is irrelevant.

“Carbon dioxide’s heating effect is minuscule and everything would be better with more of it in the atmosphere,” he said in a September, 2013, paper.

“But there is still plenty to worry about because we are at the beginning of a severe cold period.”

Mr Archibald has also occasionally taken aim at socially disadvantaged groups, such as Aboriginal Australians, people living with disabilities and those requiring Government assistance.

In an opinion piece last September, he called the Stolen Generation a “concocted myth”.

After comments made by former prime minister Tony Abbott that the Government should not subsidise the “lifestyle choices” of remote Aboriginal communities, Mr Archibald questioned why the Government should stop there.

He argued the Government should also target single mothers, those on disability pensions and those who received Federally funded childcare in a bid to slash the Budget deficit.

The Geraldton Guardian contacted Mr Archibald for comment, but preselection candidates are not permitted to speak to the media.