Shire of Murray president David Bolt set to challenge Labor’s Robyn Clarke in Murray-Wellington

The Liberals appear to have secured a star recruit to unseat a regional Labor MP, with Shire of Murray president David Bolt confirming he will nominate for his local electorate. Labor’s Robyn Clarke narrowly flipped the seat of Murray-Wellington when Labor came to power in 2017, but received 67.2 per cent of the two-party preferred vote on the back of a 15.5 per cent swing in 2021. With popular Premier Mark McGowan out of the picture and much of the electorate’s agricultural base enraged by the botched Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act, the seat is now a key target for the Liberals. Mr Bolt was re-elected shire president unopposed in October and said, in his six years leading the local government, the council achieved tourism and economic success and he believed he was now ready to have “influence on a broader landscape”. The candidate said he still needed to go through the preselection process, where nominations close February 14, but would be “honoured to stand” if party members chose him. “I’m only doing this because I believe I can win and add real value,” he said. “The Labor party has had control of both the lower and upper house and I think the mood is changing in the community and people are now thinking that that is not in the best interests of the State.” Mr Bolt said he wanted to be part of a Liberal team that was focused on regional issues, including health, which he said had been “left behind” by the Cook Government. “I want to raise awareness for rural and regional communities and ensure they have a voice,” he said. “I have learnt from my roles in local government and business and believe I can contribute on a State level.” It is understood Mr Bolt is so far not facing any serious competition for preselection. He said he would continue serving the community as shire president if he did not win the State seat. Shire of Harvey councillor Michelle Boylan ran against Ms Clarke at the last State election, but is understood to instead be vying for preselection for the upper house. Nominations have closed for the few lower house seats the Liberals hold after back-to-back defeats at the last State and Federal elections. Federal MP for Moore, Ian Goodenough, will likely lose preselection to Vince Connelly, while State MP for Cottesloe, Dr David Honey, is in the fight of his political life as he fends off a dual challenge from entertainment lawyer Richard Evans and Property Council executive director Sandra Brewer.