Liberal candidate for Kalgoorlie by-election Karen McGay commended

16/2/96

Premier Richard Court today said he was pleased that the Liberal Party had selected a strong local candidate, Karen McGay, to stand for the Kalgoorlie by-election.

"Karen McGay will be running a strong locally based campaign focussing on positive issues," Mr Court said.

"This will be in contrast to the ALP, who will again take the people of Kalgoorlie for granted and expect them to vote for them regardless of the quality of their candidate."

The Premier added that the Liberal Party would be attempting to contain the traditional by-election swing against the State Government in what was classed as one of the safest Labor seats in Western Australia.

"Mr McGinty will be hoping for a big swing against the State Government to help secure his leadership which he has placed on the line in this by-election," he said.

"Mr McGinty and Labor's powerbrokers have sought to impose their will on the people of Kalgoorlie by trying to select who will be their local parliamentary representative.

"He supported the expulsion of Graham Campbell from the ALP, the dumping of the locally-favoured ALP candidate for the Kalgoorlie by-election and he wants Julian Grill removed as Labor representative for the seat of Eyre.

"The Liberal Party polled particularly well in Kalgoorlie in the last State election and Karen will be fighting hard to maintain our Liberal vote in this strong Labor area.

"Karen has a good track record of serving all the people of Kalgoorlie in many of the public offices she has held over the years and this is the kind of person the people of Kalgoorlie require in State Parliament."