Josh Zimmerman: Labor has done little to endear itself to North West voters after Alannah Maciernan blunder

Any residual argument for Labor running a candidate in the North West Central by-election was laid to rest the moment Agriculture Minister Alannah MacTiernan suggested an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease could drive down the price of meat and milk. Which makes it deeply ironic that MacTiernan was reportedly one of the voices inside Government pushing hardest for Labor to campaign in the contest — even in the wake of her blunder. The long-time Labor warrior has built a reputation for never shying from a fight but even she should have realised this one was futile. North West Central — held by departing National MP Vince Catania for 13 years — is a massive country seat with a relatively tiny voting population of around 11,000. Pastoralism sits alongside mining as the most important industries in the region, with tens of thousands of cattle and sheep roaming stations dotted across the electorate. Convincing the region’s residents to hand Labor a 53rd seat in the Legislative Assembly — shortly after the McGowan Government effectively abolished mandatory country representation in the Upper House — was always going to be a tough ask. It’s worth remembering that Labor failed to dislodge Catania — a former Labor MP himself — at the 2021 election, when Mr McGowan was at the height of his popularity. Fifteen months down the track Labor has done little to endear itself to voters in North West Central — Carnarvon hospital is so short-staffed it had to stop offering maternity services — with MacTiernan’s recent foot-in-mouth moment driving home that point.