State Government too slow on housing and power in Geraldton, Libby Mettam says on return to hometown

WA Liberal leader Libby Mettam has denounced the State Government for what she describes as a slow, inadequate approach to issues in the Mid West, on her visit to Geraldton this week. Raised in Geraldton, it is Ms Mettam’s first visit to her hometown since becoming leader of the State Liberals earlier this year. During her trip, she spoke with businesses, the City of Greater Geraldton, community groups and visited the Geraldton Health Campus, focusing on a list of local topics. THE ISSUES Power problems were a key focus for Ms Mettam following blackouts throughout the Mid West last month. Ms Mettam said the issue hasn’t received adequate attention from the Government and Liberal Agricultural Region MLC Steve Martin, meeting with Ms Mettam, called for a 320 kVA transmission line between Three Springs and Geraldton to be installed. “We need to see the government take these issues seriously and look at the sustainability of what needs to be done to ensure that there is a more robust power system in place, and just apologising does not go far enough,” Ms Mettam said. Homelessness was also high on Ms Mettam’s agenda for her visit, following news that Geraldton has seen a 47 per cent increase in homelessness over the last five years. She said the Mid West power and housing issues are linked, with some housing unable be opened to open due power issues. “There are a range of challenges here in the regions and the reliability of power is pretty central to be able to resolve some them,” she said. Ms Mettam said that while the pandemic worsened the situation, actions by the Government including selling public housing, and reducing the state skills list for migrants from 178 to 18 jobs, have had a negative impact on the State’s ability to provide homes. “It’s extraordinary that the government, while they were quick to sell off social housing when coming to government, were very slow to increase stock. We actually went backwards,” she said. “It points to a real failure of of government to support some of our most vulnerable.” RETURNING TO GERALDTON Ms Mettam was raised in Geraldton, attending Bluff Point Primary School and Geraldton Senior High School. She said the city has seen impressive improvements since she left, while keeping some of its old touch. “There’s been some fantastic work, especially with the redevelopment of the foreshore, which is been really impressive and a credit to local and state governments,” she said. “In some respects, other things haven’t changed that much. Its still got a very strong community with a good, regional character.” Despite its success over time, Ms Mettam said she believes the city, and the region, are being overlooked. “You only need to look at the hospital, look at the boarded-up social housing units . . . the unreliability of power,” she said. “This is why I’m back again. I’m putting the spotlight on this region, because the people of the Mid West deserve better.” FUTURE OF THE LIBERALS Ms Mettam’s visit to Geraldton comes after two significant defeats for the Liberal Party across the country, with Dominic Perrottet’s Government defeated in the NSW election, and the Federal Liberals losing the Aston by-election in Melbourne. Ms Mettam said that reforms to party structure following the 2021 State Election, and possibly fatigue with the McGowan Government, meant she believed the WA Liberals were on the correct track to gain voter support. “The government have been in for six years. It’s reasonable to ask whether Western Australians are better off,” she said. With her party the smallest represented in WA’s Lower House, Ms Mettam finds herself in a unique position as a Liberal leader, but not Opposition leader — a role held by local Nationals MLA Shane Love. Ms Mettam said the Liberals and Nationals would continuing discussing the relationship between the two parties, and would have a more concrete idea of this partnership in the lead-up to the 2025 election. “Our goal is to bring forward a credible alternative to the McGowan Government who have let the Mid West and the rest of Western Australia down, whether it’s in health, housing, law and order, or energy supply, particularly for this region,” she said.