Veterans affairs minister Michael Ronaldson met with the presidents of local RSL clubs on Friday, along with state justice minister Joe Francis, to introduce Liberal candidate Andrew Hastie.
Meeting at the Port Bouvard Surf Life Saving Club, Mr Hastie, a former captain in the SAS before Liberal endorsement, spoke with veterans about his service record and veterans affairs issues.
However, federal political issues dominated the discussion.
Speaking outside the club, Senator Ronaldson rejected Labor accusations that prime minister Tony Abbott was too unpopular for the Liberals to win the byelection.
“This election will about who is best to represent Canning and I hope that the people of Canning will look at Andrew [Hatsie] and say he is the one who we want to represent us,” he said.
“He understands what we need, he understands our hopes and aspirations, he is a family man, he has very broad experience.”
Senator Ronaldson called upon Labor leader Bill Shorten to support the government’s proposed free trade agreement with China.
“This is jobs in Canning, this is jobs in Western Australia, this is jobs throughout the country and Bill Shorten’s now a complete and utter puppet of the trade union movement,” he said.
“They are pulling his arms, his legs, his ears and his nose.
“If Bill Shorten is serious about talking about matters that are of importance to the people of Canning, then he needs to come out an emphatically endorse the free trade agreement today.”
The Canning byelection will be held on September 19.
