It's a fight to the finish in Freo as counting continues
Independent Kate Hulett and Labor's man in Fremantle Josh Wilson remained in a tight race to the end yesterday, as vote counting continued to determine the area's Federal MP.
Election officials were only halfway through the two-candidate count on Wednesday morning, with the system heavily delayed after the initial count on Saturday night had pitted Mr Wilson against Liberal Party contender Tait Marston.
At 11am Wednesday 55 per cent of votes had been counted, with Labor's incumbent MP 2120 votes in front of Ms Hulett with a 52 per cent to 48 per cent lead.
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Mr Wilson, who has represented Fremantle since 2016, was the first choice for 36,422 voters on Saturday — almost as many as Ms Hulett and Mr Marston combined.
But with most candidates asking voters to preference Climate-200 backed independent Ms Hulett above Mr Wilson, the race for Fremantle is now very much in the hands of voters who chose neither.
It's a second crack at politics for Ms Hulett, who fell just 424 votes shy of ousting WA Government minister Simone McGurk at the State election two months ago.
Ms McGurk this week hit out at the Liberal Party's call to preference Ms Hulett.
'The same independent complained bitterly when I received Liberal preferences but now, ironically, it looks like that might get her over the line. Of course, it's still too close to tell, so we've got hope that Josh will come through in the end like I did,' she said.
'She is against any gas development in favour of massive increases to taxes, including corporate taxes, and against AUKUS.
'So it's hypocritical and cynical that the Liberal Party gave her their preferences.'
Asked about the race on Sunday, Mr Wilson said he had fought hard for the community in his nine years in Parliament.
'So, the count continues. I respect the count,' he said.
'I respect all of the contestants in the Federal seat of Fremantle ... the way that the results were coming in later last evening and some of the implications we have about the preference flows make me feel hopeful.
'If I get the opportunity to continue working hard for the community that I've grown up in and that has shaped me and my values and allowed me to take those values into the national parliament on their behalf, I'll be incredibly grateful.'
On Monday Ms Hulett said the tight result sent a clear message to both major parties.
'We have already won in so many ways — Fremantle has shown what is possible when we do politics differently,' she said.
'We offered change, and people have voted for it. They want to take back power from the politicians to get meaningful action and better outcomes.
'The Labor Party should really take very clear note to what has come up in Fremantle.'
Ms Hulett expressed sympathy for Mr Wilson as a 'progressive' voice within Labor but accused him of failing to influence Government policy on AUKUS and climate change.
'He's unable to have a strong voice because of the system and I think what we're all fighting against is the system,' she said.
Ms Hulett revealed she is yet to speak to Perth's other Climate-200 funded politician Kate Chaney, but saw humour in the reality that there could be more Kates from Perth in Canberra than Liberals.
'Seeing how she's mobilised hundreds and hundreds of people in her electorate is very inspiring,' Ms Hulett said.
'She did offer that we could go and have a few days together so she can tell me how to do the entire job ... it's nice to have extra Kates around, it's reassuring.'
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