Opposition leader Bill Shorten campaigned in Mandurah Friday afternoon, meeting locals at Mandurah Forum and delivering his pitch for voters in the upcoming Canning byelection.
Mr Shorten was accompanied by Canning Labor candidate Matt Keogh and popular state Mandurah MP David Templeman.
“If jobs, schools, hospitals and fairness are important to you, then vote for Labor, vote for Matt Keogh,” Mr Shorten said.
Mr Shorten said that the byelection would be an opportunity for the people of Mandurah to deliver a strong message to prime minister Tony Abbott that he was sending the country in the wrong direction.
“There’s another 149 electorates around the country who’d love to be in the position that Canning is,” he said.
“You have the opportunity to do something valuable for your family, for families right around the country and vote against Tony Abbott.
“We need a strategy for jobs, a strategy for schools, and a health-care system where your health-care card means more than your credit card.”
Mr Shorten also said the government’s treatment of pensioners would be an important issue to voters.
“Mr Abbott broke his promises to pensioners,” he said.
“It’s no secret that the Liberals don’t want him anywhere near the campaign, and that’s just one reason.”
Although campaigning in Mandurah for the first time as leader of the opposition, Mr Shorten said he was no stranger to town.
“I spent a lot of time this way when I was AWU president, especially in Pinjarra,” he said.
Mr Keogh said it was significant that Mr Shorten was spending his time in Mandurah.
“It’s a fantastic to have Bill in town,” he said.
“It’s an opportunity for people to talk about the issues that are important.”
Mr Shorten said he was looking forward to spending more time in Mandurah during the campaign.
The Canning byelection will be held on September 19.