National MP Vince Catania resignation date revealed with Opposition confident they will win the seat

The date for the North West Central by-election could be set as early as next week, with Opposition Leader Mia Davies revealing outgoing MP Vince Catania will officially resign on Monday. Even though he announced his resignation in June, a date for the by-election will only be known after Mr Catania hands his resignation to the Speaker of the House. It is likely to be some time in September, meaning voters in North West Central would have effectively been subjected to a three-month campaign. While on the campaign trial with Nationals candidate Merome ‘Mem’ Beard this week, Ms Davies confirmed Mr Catania would resign on August 8. She was confident Ms Beard would win, and retain the seat for the Nationals. It is currently a two-horse race between Ms Beard, a Carnarvon publican and Mr Catania’s staffer, and the Liberals candidate, Gascoyne pastoralist Will Baston. Labor say it won’t reveal its decision to run a candidate or not until Mr Catania officially resigns, but it’s widely tipped that they will sit this one out. Speculation is mounting the decision to field a candidate has caused an internal split between Premier Mark McGowan — who it’s believed favours not running a candidate — and senior minister Alannah MacTiernan, who it’s understood supports the party’s 2021 candidate Cherie Sibosado having another go. Ms Davies said regardless if Labor ran a candidate, the Nationals were a “grassroots” party who were just getting down to business. “Mem’s priority is to be out meeting businesses, out door-knocking and making sure people have the opportunity to meet her because she is going to be their representative,” she said. “That’s how we operate, whether it’s in Kalbarri, Exmouth, Carnarvon or anywhere else in the State that we seek to represent.” Mr Catania only retained North West Central by 259 votes at the 2021 election. If Liberals win, it would leave them and the Nationals with three Lower House MPs each. The Nationals claimed official Opposition party status after the 2021 poll because they ended up with more MLAs than the Liberals.