Labor Party faithful were onside for the official launch of Colleen Egan’s campaign as candidate for the Thornlie electorate in this year’s state election.
Ms Egan was announced as the candidate last month as a last-minute replacement following the shock withdrawal of Daniel Morrison-Bird. The seat has been held by retiring Member for Thornlie Chris Tallentire.
Guests at the launch included included five WA Government ministers: Amber-Jade Sanderson, John Quigley, Simone McGurk, John Carey and David Templeman.
“I feel privileged to seek the support of this electorate to become the Member for Thornlie,” Ms Egan said.
Ms Egan grew up in Perth’s south-eastern suburbs as the youngest of seven children. She has served as the Chief of Staff to Attorney General John Quigley from 2017 to 2023, and has also been recognised with a Walkley Award for Most Outstanding Contribution to Journalism in 2006.
“I’m confident that I can be a powerful representative for this community. In 25 years of journalism I frequently provided a voice for people who needed an advocate to stand up for them. I then spent six years in the office of the Attorney General, gaining knowledge of how to get things done in government,” Ms Egan said.
“I’m best known for working for eight years on the case of Andrew Mallard, an innocent man who was wrongly imprisoned for murder. A lot of that work was done on weekends and evenings, for free.
I’m someone who fights for what I believe in, and as a working single mum I understand the many pressures that families face.”
If elected, Ms Egan will aim to continue to advocate for better education, training, employment, transport and health services.
“We know that families need support, which is why the government is taking action on cost of living, including power bill credits, fee-free TAFE courses, student assistance payments and capped fares for public transport,” she said.
