Nationals leader Shane Love confident of capturing Mid-West seat as party makes more commitments for Carnarvon

Nationals WA leader Shane Love says he is confident he can claim the new Mid-West seat as his party commits to election promises for Carnarvon. The Mid-West seat combines Mr Love’s electorate of Moore and parts of the North West Central, held by Liberal Merome Beard. Despite experts predicting it was a two-horse race, he said he was feeling the support from the community not just for his seat but State-wide. “I think there’s a lot more support for the Nationals than is being thought,” he said. “I’ve never felt so much support as I’ve been receiving walking around and talking to people in the electorate. “It was a strength of support for me and for the National Party that I hadn’t seen outwardly expressed quite so much in the past.” As the party aims to secure votes in the Gascoyne, the Nationals have made several promises for the area. These pledges include $2.3 million to deliver a long-term water strategy for the Shire of Carnarvon, $750,000 to upgrade lighting at Premier Oval, and a boost to horticulture support by appointing a permanent agronomist for the Department of Agriculture. The party has also promised to restore breast screening services in Cue, as well as other parts of the Mid West. Mr Love said the promises were essential for the local community. “We know that with Royalties for Regions, we can achieve a lot,” he said. “There’s a number of promises that have been made which are specific to Carnarvon, but a lot of that comes from the general view that we have a billion dollars a year to be able to make change in regional WA.” Mr Love said an integrated water solution for Carnarvon would support the Greening Carnarvon Initiative. “Ensuring Carnarvon has a secure and sustainable water supply is absolutely essential to keeping our parks, sporting fields and green spaces vibrant and usable for the whole community,” he said. “This project is a smart, strategic approach to managing water resources, making better use of artesian water, recycled water, groundwater and potable water to maintain and enhance public spaces.” The commitments come after the Nationals promised to return Carnarvon’s maternity service at the hospital within 100 days of being in Government if successful in 2025. Mr Love said there was a strong sense of frustration in people across the Mid-West electorate with the Labor Party over the past eight years. “I think there’s a general feeling of anger against the Labor Party; the sentiment isn’t strong for them,” he said. “It’ll be an interesting election because Moore and North West Central are seats which were abolished and parts of which come together to form Mid-West. “We know it had been Nationals and Labor contests over the last few elections, but this time I think Labor are really in for a hiding.” Ms Beard, Mr Love’s main rival and former Nationals colleague, said on Saturday she was determined to win despite her opponent’s high profile. “I acknowledge that, but I’m a competitor,” she said. “I actually do a lot of kilometres and I’m talking to a lot of people and I’m getting a good reception.”