After months of speculation, the Nationals WA have announced that former party leader Mia Davies will be jumping out of the fire and into the frying pan, as candidate for the new federal seat of Bullwinkel.
Mia Davies became the first Nationals opposition leader since the 1940s after the tumultuous 2021 state election.
But in January last year, Ms Davies announced her resignation as opposition leader, and leader of the Nationals WA.
She agreed to continue on as local state member for the Central Wheatbelt until the 2025 state election.
“I don’t have any fuel left in the tank to go beyond that election,” she said.
But the rumour mill went into overdrive in June when federal Nationals leader David Littleproud expressed his desire to see Mia Davies run for the proposed seat of Bullwinkel at the next federal election.
WA was designated to get an extra federal electorate this year after a population boom.
The proposed Division of Bullwinkel will represent the interests of most of the hills communities and consume parts of the existing Divisions of Burt, Canning, Durack, Hasluck, O’Connor and Swan.
Despite the nod from the party’s leader, Ms Davies was hazy about her intentions until the end of July when she announced she would be seeking pre-selection.
On Saturday it became a done deal when the Nationals WA endorsed her as their candidate.
Nationals WA leader Shane Love voiced his strong support for Mia Davies saying “state parliament’s loss will be Canberra’s gain”.
“Mia has been a steadfast leader in the state parliament, playing a critical role in the successful delivery of Royalties for Regions and making key decisions as a former cabinet minister and as opposition leader,” he said.
Federal Nationals leader David Littleproud said he had a “huge amount of respect for Ms Davies, because she is a strong leader and never wavers from her beliefs”.
“Western Australia needs a local champion to take the fight up to the Albanese Government to protect local communities and their way of life. It’s why I am thrilled that Mia has decided to step back into politics and take up the fight on a federal level.”
Just after the Nationals’ announcement, the Liberal Party officially backed Afghanistan veteran and Walkley award-winning journalist Matt Moran as their horse in this race.
Mr Moran announced his interest in taking on the fight for Bullwinkel after he lost out on preselection for the seat of Curtin in February.
“This region of Western Australia holds a special place in my heart – I was born right here in Kalamunda, raised in Boya, and my family had a small farm in Toodyay,” he said.
“Our community is ready for leadership that stands up to divisive, woke ideology and champions our core Liberal values.”
Elections expert Antony Green has forecast that Bullwinkel will be a marginal Labor seat with a 3.2 percent margin.
Labor is yet to select a candidate for the division. But former Maritime Union of Australia organiser and current state Labor senator for the mining and pastoral region Kyle McGinn has nominated as a contender for the seat.
