Independent Max Wilson campaigns for business

MAVERICK MP Rob Johnson was not the only independent candidate at Tuesday’s Joondalup Business Association debate.

Max Wilson, who has worked to further the cause of the Joondalup and Wanneroo business associations in recent years, is running as an independent for Wanneroo.

In fact, the newspaper sales manager, who is on leave from his position at the Weekender, was singled out by Mr Johnson’s rival for the seat of Hillarys, Liberal Peter Katsambanis.

“It’s everyone’s right to put their hand up for election,” Mr Katsambanis said.

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“I will always stand up for that right of every single person to vote in an election and to contest an election as a candidate.

“I see at the back of the room my friend Max Wilson who is doing exactly that in Wanneroo – standing as an independent because he thinks he has something to offer and he is presenting his credentials to the public and good on him for doing that.”

Mr Wilson has been campaigning for small business reform, the development of the Neerabup industrial area and a less adversarial politics.

“Small business reform is imperative for growth in the economy and I will be pushing for a State summit on how this growth can be achieved,” he said.

He has experienced the highs and lows of an independent without financial backing of a major party.

A high was recently being drawn in the No. 1 position on the ballot paper and a low being left out of a public debate in Wanneroo in which only the major party candidates were invited to speak.

“It is hard because we’re running on a shoestring budget and we can hardly afford the shoe,” he quipped.