Question time: Candidates for Geraldton talk election promises, COVID vaccines and voter concerns

While Geraldton residents continue to vote early, many are yet to decide who they want to represent them in Parliament. Ian Blayney is trying for his fourth term, having won in 2008, 2013 and 2017 as a Liberal, defecting to the Nationals in 2019. Local businessman Rob Dines is the local Liberal candidate, and TAFE lecturer Lara Dalton is contesting the seat for Labor once again after polling the highest number of first-preference votes in 2017. With just eight days to go until the March 13 State election, the Geraldton Guardian put a series of questions to the major party candidates vying for WA’s most marginal regional seat. What are the first five things you intend to achieve if elected? IAN BLAYNEY I want to see more social housing and housing options — what happened to community housing? I would push for the Geraldton Hospital project to be completed ASAP and for more reliable power supplies in the Mid West. We would also get the Abrolhos tourism and aquaculture sectors off the ground and work for a community consensus for a route for the heavy vehicle bypass. LARA DALTON If elected I am looking forward to delivering WA Labor’s Plan for Geraldton, seeing my local commitments big and small implemented. It would be a very special privilege to be the Member for Geraldton when the redeveloped Geraldton Health Campus is opened. At all times, I will be a strong local voice for Geraldton in the McGowan Labor team. ROB DINES Hold the Government to account for the inaction on the Geraldton Hospital upgrade. Demand the transport minister attends a public forum in Walkaway with Main Roads to properly communicate why we need a new highway through Walkaway/ Moonyoonooka. Reimburse Geraldton the $60 million previously returned to the State under the guise of “budget repair” given the budget is now more than $3 billion in surplus. A commitment the Government will never try to nationalise the crayfishing industry ever again. Have the Government fast-track refurbishment of dozens of boarded-up public houses, construction of new public houses. and transfer of suitable existing stock to community housing. What are the main concerns voters have brought up with you during this campaign for Geraldton? And further afield? IAN BLAYNEY Housing and homelessness, jobs, crime, cost of living, and better health services. LARA DALTON We all want the same things: opportunity, social cohesion, and a liveable city. Employment, health services, mental health services, education and training are core issues. ROB DINES The No.1 is always the lack of recycling here. What will you do if someone else wins? IAN BLAYNEY Wish them all the best. Clean out my office. Pay my bills. Do a bit of planning with the wife and family, and work out where we go next. I haven’t thought about it much. LARA DALTON I am focused on the election, unlike some others who have already conceded defeat. I am in this election until all the votes are counted and we have a clear, undisputed winner for the seat of Geraldton. ROB DINES I’ll continue working full-time managing our family business in air- conditioning, Ocean Air, as I have been throughout the campaign. How can Geraldton voters take the Liberals’ and Nationals’ funding promises seriously after Opposition Leader Zak Kirkup waved the white flag? IAN BLAYNEY I’ll just keep working on things, run petitions, grievances, speaking in Parliament — as you do in Government or Opposition. I managed to convince the minister to put the necessary fence around Waggrakine Primary School, then wrote her a letter to say thanks. I’m an effective, experienced MP. Zak speaks for the Libs, not the Nationals. The Legislative Council result will determine what the Government can or can’t do and if it needs to horse-trade. LARA DALTON Mark McGowan and WA Labor delivered all of their 2017 election commitments for Geraldton, despite not winning the seat — because WA Labor always delivers for Geraldton. ROB DINES Without a viable and active Opposition maintaining pressure and accountability, the Government will become lazy and disinterested. So we need to continue to provide an alternative for how we allocate the State Budget and continue to provide workable and practical suggestions. At this election, what do you think is more important to Geraldton voters out of health, education, law and order, and infrastructure? IAN BLAYNEY Law and order No.1, health services No.2. LARA DALTON All of the above rely on sound economic management. Our State was nearly bankrupted under the last Liberal-National government. WA Labor has delivered investments into our schools, TAFE, mental health, roads and tourism. It’s not about one being more important — they are all essential. ROB DINES Health is the No.1, which is why the Government needs to be held to account for building a hospital too small in the first place. Will you and your family get a COVID-19 vaccine when the time comes? Why or why not? IAN BLAYNEY I’ll have a vaccine for COVID as soon as I can. I’m not sure about the wife or my adult children. We haven’t discussed it. LARA DALTON Yes — when it’s our turn we will get vaccinated to help protect Western Australia from COVID-19. ROB DINES If the risk is still apparent when my low-priority cohort is ready for vaccinating, then I will take it. My family are not opposed to having the vaccine. Our three children are fully vaccinated and we expect we will be in the lowest-priority category as we are all healthy and my wife and I are in our mid-30s. I hope my grandmother will have the vaccine very soon and I expect my parents will have it later this year. What has surprised you most during this election campaign? IAN BLAYNEY A lot of people seem to just want to reward McGowan for his actions (and luck) on COVID. They appear not to be thinking about all the things Government has to do and how they are going to address things like ambulance ramping, reliable power supplies, housing, cost of living. I worry we will have a joke of a Parliament for four years and a sort of bunyip dictatorship. LARA DALTON How engaged voters are with this election and how everyone knows who the WA Premier is. Mark McGowan has shown us all his strength as a leader and his compassion as a person. People love that and want to see him as our leader for years to come. ROB DINES The number of locals that are non-voters (non-citizen residents or not enrolled to vote).